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MINUTE MAN ALERT! CALLING ALL PATRIOTS!!!

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

A public hearing forSenate Bill 116, the Constitutional Carry bill, is scheduled to be heard by the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, March 24th, 2015 at 10am in rooms 206 and 208 of the Legislative Office Building in Concord. The LOB is located at: 33 North State Street, Concord, NH 03301.

PLEASE JOIN GUN OWNERS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE BY SHOWING UP AND SUPPORTING THIS LONG OVERDUE BILL!

SB116, New Hampshire’s Constitutional Carry bill, is a bill repealing the requirement to obtain a license to carry a loaded and concealed pistol or revolver as the law states today. This is a comprehensive bill restoring our rights as New Hampshire citizens to keep and bear arms without mandating a government permission slip to do so.

SB116, as currently written, simply makes a license to carry a pistol/revolver concealed OPTIONAL for law abiding citizens who are not otherwise prohibited by New Hampshire Statute to own or possess a firearm. Because New Hampshire’s pistol/revolver license isreciprocal in 22 states, RSA159:6,the law that lets you apply for a firearms license in New Hampshire will be kept in place, and repealsRSA159:4, the NH law as it is today requiring a license to carry concealed.

How can I help?

·PLEASE JOIN GUN OWNERS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AT THE LOB ON TUESDAY MARCH 24TH AT 10AM TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE FOR YOUR VOICES TO BE HEARD! FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK AT THE HEARING YOU CAN SIGN THE BLUE FORM STATING THAT YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL.

·The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee is made up of 20 State Representatives. If you are unable to show up for the public hearing on Tuesday, March 24th, PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL THE COMMITTEE. Tell them you support GONH’s position on SB116, and urge them to vote “OUT TO PASS” WITH NO CHANGES OR AMENDMENTS MADE TO THIS BILL.

click here--> “WHO IS MY SENATOR”SB116, New Hampshire’s Constitutional Carry bill, is a bill repealing the requirement to obtain a license to carry a loaded and concealed pistol or revolver as the law state s today. This is a comprehensive bill restoring our rights as New Hampshire citizens to keep and bear arms without mandating a government permission slip to do so.

SB116, as currently written, simply makes a license to carry a pistol/revolver concealed OPTIONAL for law abiding citizens who are not otherwise prohibited by New Hampshire Statute to own or possess a firearm. Because New Hampshire’s pistol/revolver license is reciprocal in 22 states, RSA159:6, the law that lets you apply for a firearms license in New Hampshire will be kept in place, and repeals RSA159:4 , the NH law as it is today requiring a license to carry concealed.

How can I help?

Call and email your Senators and tell them you want Constitutional Carry in New Hampshire. Tell them you support Gun Owners of NH’s position on SB116. Tell them you want the bill passed as passed by the Judiciary Committee, without amendment. click here --> “WHO IS MY SENATOR”
Posted 02/11/2015

*****GONH MINUTEMAN ALERT*****

ACTION NEEDED ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY BILL!!

Senate Bill 116 is set for the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday, January 29th 2015 at 1:00pm in Representatives Hall at the Concord Statehouse.

PLEASE JOIN GUN OWNERS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND ATTEND THIS IMPORTANT HEARING IN REPRESENTATIVES HALL AT THE STATEHOUSE. PATRIOTS MAY WANT TO SHOW UP A LITTLE EARLY AS A LARGE CROWD IS EXPECTED!!

SB116, New Hampshire’s Constitutional Carry bill, is a bill repealing the requirement to obtain a license to carry a loaded and concealed pistol or revolver as the law states today. This is a comprehensive bill restoring our rights as New Hampshire citizens to keep and bear arms without mandating a government permission slip to do so.

SB116, as currently written, simply makes a license to carry a pistol/revolver concealed OPTIONAL for law abiding citizens who are not otherwise prohibited by New Hampshire Statute to own or possess a firearm. Because New Hampshire’s pistol/revolver license is reciprocal in 22 states,RSA159:6, the law that lets you apply for a firearms license in New Hampshire will be kept in place, and repeals RSA159:4, the NH law that is currently in place today requiring a license to carry concealed.

How can I help?

•There is strength in numbers. Showing up to support this bill and/or testify on its behalf is the best way to show your support!

•If you are unable to attend, calling and emailing the Senate Judiciary Committee to tell them you stand with GONH and support the passage of this bill is the next best alternative.

2014 New England-ELEY RIFLE SEMINAR - Nov 22

Come to hear Jamie Gray discuss with you the financial and competitive merits of testing your barreled action at ELEY’s new testing facility in Winters Texas. Maintain a competitive advantage at your local Junior Olympic State Qualifier or during the upcoming match season!
Learn what mental strategies Jamie used to help propel her to the top of her sport in 2012 earning the gold medal for team USA.

Observe first hand proper positioning techniques for three position shooting. Learn beyond the basics on key elements of position control.

There is something that even the most experienced shooter and coach can learn.

The event is totally free, although advanced registration is required.

Contact:

Bill Dutton
Cell: 617-594-2194
Work: 603-791-3316

Posted 10/30/2014

ATTENTION GONH MEMBERS

Board of Director Cyndi Glen has taken over the membership and is now the Membership Secretary for Gun Owners of New Hampshire. If you have any questions regarding your membership, status, etc. Please email Cyndi at:
Cyndi.gonh@gmail.com.
In Liberty,
GONH Board of Directors

"The state Department of Safety created a controversy this summer by changing some language on the state’s concealed carry license application. The language seemed to imply that the department has wide discretion when deciding who gets concealed carry permits. The controversy raised a very important question about the state’s concealed carry license: Why do we have one?
... "
Read more

Monthly BOD Meeting

The GONH Board of Directors meeting is tonight, June 17th, 7pm at the Holiday Inn in Concord. Gary Lambert who is running for U.S. Congress and Andrew Hemingway who is running for Governor will be in attendance tonight to address the Board and the members. See you all there!

MINUTE MAN ALERT - ACTION NEEDED!!!!!

WE ARE CALLING ALL GONH members, NH General Court elected officials, State and Federal Representatives, Second Amendment Sisters Board of Directors, and any other GONH invited guests: SCOTT BROWN HAS CONFIRMED HE WILL BE ATTENDING THE NEXT GUN OWNERS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE MEETING TO DISCUSS HIS POSITION ON FIREARMS, AS WELL AS TO ADDRESS OUR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS REGARDING HIS RUN FOR US SENATE.

The next Gun Owners of New Hampshire's Board of Directors' meeting is scheduled for Tuesday May 20th, 2014 at the Holiday Inn in Concord, New Hampshire starting at 7pm. Scott Brown has decided to run again for a seat in the US Senate, however this time instead of running in Massachusetts, he will be running for a seat to represent the People in the state of New Hampshire.

As always, we insist members be polite and respectful when addressing any candidate who comes to speak at our monthly meetings. This is important so candidates will continue to come before GONH members to better understand who we are, what we do, and what our position is regarding the Second Amendment. At Gun Owners of New Hampshire, our motto remains to inform and educate our members and the public with facts so please keep this in mind while addressing the candidates!

Please join us and voice your questions, comments, and concerns to Scott Brown.

In Liberty,Gun Owners of New Hampshire's Board of Directors

Posted 5/14/2014

Minute-Man Alert Immediate Action Required

Support the GO-NH amendment to SB 244. See the Amendment in the attachment below!

On Thursday, 3/20, the State Senate Judiciary Committee will hold an executive session to consider an amendment that will establish a mechanism for citizens who have been adjudicated mentally incompetent, involuntarily treated or committed to a treatment facility or subjected to a guardianship to have their name and mental health information removed from NICS and all records annulled, thereby restoring them of their right to carry a firearm. This amendment, drafted by Nicole R. Fortune, Esq., while working with GO-NH and Senator Sharon Carson remedies the constitutional challenges present in the original version.

Please call or email your State Senator and to the Senate Judiciary Committee to show your support for this important amendment, and that it should pass without any modification.

More…

As NH and other state legislatures throughout the country work to broaden NICS to include individuals with a mental health diagnosis, it is vital that mechanisms be established paving a way for those individual’s rights to be fully restored and as if the initial infringement never occurred.

This amendment also establishes a study commission to examine firearms and mental health issues related to the NICS process. This study commission would include representation from the NRA, GO-NH, NH Firearms Coalition, Pro Gun NH, Second Amendment Sisters, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, among others. The commission will report its’ findings and proposals to the NH Speaker of the House.

GO-NH supports this amendment as written without any modifications or further amendment(s). Senator Carson has assured GO-NH that this bill will be killed should further amendments or modifications be made.

February 18th Meeting Cancelled

The February 18, 2014 Open Meeting of the Board of Directors has been cancelled due to the weather.
Posted 2/18/2014

5th Annual Hudson Fish and Game Club Junior Rifle Team Fundraiser - March 8th

The Hudson Fish and Game Club Junior Rifle Team will be holding a fundraiser on March 8th. Attached is the flyer for the event. (When printing the flyer, choose landscape, print on both sides, flip on short edge.)

Those who have not participated before, the format is simple. $15 to enter. $5 to re-enter (as many times as you want). Each relay is 20 minutes long with a 10 minute changeover period between. Course of fire is 10 shots standing with unlimited sighters. Classes are Service rifle (AR 22LR only), Precision Smallbore Rifle, Precision Air Rifle. Coaching is allowed for new shooters. 22 rifle will be shot on NRA A-17 targets, Air Rifle will be shot on the AR 5/10 targets. Loaner rifles will be available for use. .22 ammo is available at $5 per 50.

We will provide breakfast and lunch at a very reasonable price. Kitchen will open for breakfast at 7:30am. So stop in and get a hearty breakfast before hitting the range!

Prizes include:

10% of total take in each class awarded to the highest scoring shooter.

5% of total take in each class drawn via lottery ticket in each class.

Junior Rifle Team Sweatshirt Drawing.

Additional Raffle items may be available.

If you would like to make a direct donation in lieu of participating directly in the event, you can send a check or money order payable to: Hudson Fish and Game Club Attn: Bill Dutton 19 hunter Dr Derry, NH 03038 Memo on check: Junior Rifle Fundraiser

HB1589 Vote

HB1589 WILL BE VOTED ON BY THE HOUSE WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 12TH!!! WE NEED ALL PATRIOTS AVAILABLE TO BE AT THIS VOTE. TIME TBA
Posted 2/8/2014

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

ACTION NEEDED ON HB1589 WHICH REQUIRES BACKROUND CHECKS FOR FIREARM SALES WHICH WOULD MAKE CRIMINALS OUT OF LAW ABIDING CITIZENS IS NOW ON ITS 4TH AMENDED CHANGE!!!!THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND COMMITTEE VOTE IS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4th, AT 2:30pm AT THE N.H. LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING (LOB) ROOM 302 IN CONCORD N.H. WE CAN NOT TESTIFY AT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, HOWEVER WE CAN SHOW UP TO SHOW THEM THAT WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION AND WE OPPOSE THIS BILL.

The Gun Owners of New Hampshire Legislative Committee has been to all of the hearings. GONH has seen all the proposed changes and can say with certainty that this bill targets the law abiding citizens of New Hampshire and NOT THE CRIMINALS! Why are our legislators trying to "fix" something when NOTHING is broken? New Hampshire does NOT need politicians stripping away anymore of our rights away due to their insecurities and misguided judgment.

We need your phone calls, emails, and letters to this committee explaining there is NO WAY TO CHANGE THIS INTO A "GOOD" BILL!!! THE ONLY SOLUTION IS FOR THE COMMITTEE TO VOTE ITL !!!(Inexpedient to Legislate, meaning to kill this bill)

We also need you to make extra calls to Representative John Hunt, as he is the ranking republican/minority leader of the committee and let him know that he took an oath to uphold the constitution and HB1589 needs nothing more than an ITL vote: (603) 899-6000.

Also contact House Minority Leader Representative Gene Chandler and tell him that you expect him to make sure all of his members vote ITL on HB 1589: (603) 374-6603.

Lastly, please call your own state representatives and let them know that WE the People of New Hampshire expect them to listen to their constituents, uphold the constitution, fulfill their duties, and vote ITL on HB1589.

Let your voices be heard!!!!

Be VERY FIRM (yet polite) and demand them to KILL the Bill.

Re-posted 02/01/2014

January 21, 2014 Meeting Rescheduled

The January 21, 2014 Open Meeting of the Board of Directors will be re-scheduled to next month due to weather.
Posted 01/21/2014

Senate Bill 244

Senate Bill 244,Mental illness is not a crime! SB 244 targets people for whom any mental health information can be found for potential inclusion in the National Instant Criminal Background check system, thereby prohibiting possession of a firearm in violation of the 2nd Amendment of the Unites States Constitution. This is only one such example of the overreaching into your Constitutionally protected rights effected by this bill. Tell your Senator that the preservation of your rights deserve more due diligence than demonstrated by SB 244, . We urge you to attend the SB 244 public hearing scheduled to be heard in Tuesday, January 14, at 9 am in Room 100 of the ...State Capital Building in Concord if you cant attend please call or write your Senator

HAMMOND: Should you lose your gun rights if you visit a shrink?

Board Meeting to be Rescheduled

The December 17, 2013 GO NH Board meeting will be re-scheduled due to weather.
Posted 12/17/2013

A letter from Rep. J.R. Hoell

As a conservative, I am really concerned that the NHGOP is making a grave error on this Scott Brown event. Please see the letter below and the notes. The time is now to get involved or we will likely have a Anti-Life (pro-choice) Anti-gun US senator next November, regardless of who wins. Please see my email to other friends:

Friends, The fight for NH principles has never been more intense. We are facing some of the worse anti-gun legislation that we have seen in years and now the NHGOP is working with a well known Anti-Gun, Bloomberg financed, Former MA Senator. * I was shocked to find out that the the NHGOP is willing to support this known big government anti-gun, Anti-life candidate. When the NHGOP brought in Rand Paul, the crowd was overwhelming and the event was standing room only. Raul Paul was great on both of these issues. NH has a strong liberty leaning base and we cannot afford to lose this opportunity to unseat Liberal Shaheen. We need a conservative that represents NH down in DC, not a progressive RINO. Please see the alert below and forward to our 2nd amendment friends or pro-life friends. There is going to be several protests at this event asking the the NHGOP actually support a conservative. See you Thursday at the monument in Nashua!

Regards,

Rep. Hoell

Posted 12/17/2013

MINUTEMAN ALERT

On December 19th, 2013 between the hours of 6:00pm and 8:00pm at the Hunt Memorial Building on 6 Main Street in Nashua, we need all Patriots on deck to inform and educate the NH GOP's that NH gun owners do not agree with promoting the anti-gun, Bloomberg Endorsed former Senator and gun banner Scott Brown as our next NH Senator.
Posted 12/14/2013

Ex-Senator from Massachusetts Toys with New Hampshire Run

Scott P. Brown is keeping his options open and his profile high a year after his defeat by Elizabeth Warren.

Scott Brown backs assault gun ban

Outgoing Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown has become the first GOP senator to endorse a renewed assault weapons ban. “What happened in Newtown where those children were subject to that level of violence is beyond my comprehension,” Brown told the Springfield Republican on Wednesday. “As a state legislator in Massachusetts I supported an assault weapons ban thinking other states would follow suit. But unfortunately, they have not and innocent people are being killed. As a result, I support a federal assault weapons ban, perhaps like the legislation we have in Massachusetts.”

Town Hall Meetings

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte will provide an update on the nation’s fiscal situation during these town hall meetings. The forums are part of a series of town hall meetings Senator Ayotte is holding for each county this year. “New Hampshire residents are rightly concerned about the fiscal condition of our country. As the debate on budget priorities continues in Washington, I look forward to updating area residents on my efforts to put America on a fiscally sustainable path,” said Senator Ayotte, a member of the Senate Budget Committee.

NH State Pistol Championship Returns to Pelham Fish and Game

After a one-year hiatus, Pelham Fish and Game will again host the NH State Pistol Championship at the Turning Target range on September 21st and 22nd (see attached match brochure). Shooters may sign up for either day’s series of events.

Each day, a 2700 match will be held for the NH State title. The 2700 competition is comprised of 90 shots with a .22 pistol, 90 shots with a center fire pistol (.32 through .45 caliber), and 90 shots with a .45 pistol. Shooters may sign up for any one, two or all three of these 90-shot matches. Following the 2700 each day, an Excellence in Competition (EIC) “leg” match and a Distinguished Revolver (DR) match will be shot for all those interested . Additional details may be found in the match brochure (click here). Lunch is included in the entry fee.

Firearms Records Bureau v. Simkin

From the Granite Grok...

"In early August a firearms/right to carry case was settled in the Supreme Judicial Court in Massachusetts that has some significant ramifications but that has been grossly under-reported, if it has been reported at all.Nashua, New Hampshire resident and Federally Licensed Firearms dealer Jay E. Simkin (Attorney Penny Dean), successfully overturned a lower court decision that had sustained the revocation of his unrestricted non-resident Massachusetts firearms carry permit.Long story short, the state revoked his temporary nonresident Class A unrestricted license to carry firearms in Massachusetts on the grounds that he was no longer a “suitable person” because he had, in their view, exceeded his stated purpose for claiming to need the license and because…employees of the medical office where he sought treatment, and where the complaint leading to revocation originated, were “alarmed” and “concerned for their safety” at the sight of his weapons."

ATTENTION WINDHAM, NH RESIDENTS

DID YOU HAVE TO WAIT MORE THAN 14 days to obtain a Pistol/Revolver License “LTC” from the Chief of Police of Windham? If so, what date did you apply, and what date did the Chief of Police notify you in writing of a denial, or let you know your LTC was ready to be picked up? Please call Penny Dean 603-230-9999 with this information or e-mail her at penny@pennydean.com. This lawbreaking has to stop. It won’t stop unless YOU speak up! Information is power.

The Camp Perry National Matches are held every year at Camp Perry, in Port Clinton, Ohio. It begins with two days of individual three position matches, and then a day of team three position matches. Next follows two days of prone individual matches, prone team matches, and then two more prone individual matches. One match on prone team day is the Whistler Boy. The Whistler Boy match is a juniors-only match comprised of five targets: a 50 yard prone, a 100 yard prone, another 50 yard prone, and then one standing and one kneeling 50 yard target. This year, the Gun Owners of New Hampshire sponsored three state representative teams. The Bronze Team was comprised of Bailey Urbach of Hudson and Jarred Dassler of Salem, coached by Steve Hanscom, placing 18th overall. Placing 15th overall was the Silver Team, made up of Andrew Solomonides of Gilsum and Lacey Hamelin of Keene, coached by Larry Parker, Jr.. The Gold Team, Elizabeth Dutton of Derry and Joe Nikiforakis of Swanzey, coached by Dave Polonsky, placed 5th overall and made a trip onstage as 3rd state association team.

The other matches were full of accomplishments and awards for New Hampshire’s shooters. Elizabeth Dutton won first sub junior for the first day of three position, and Zachary Wambsganss of Hudson followed closely, placing second sub junior for the day. The two placed second and third sub junior for the three position two-day aggregate, respectively. Bailey Urbach won a total of 23 award points for the three position matches, placing 5th marksman in prone, 8th marksman in kneeling, and 8th marksman overall for the first day, 22nd marksman in prone on the second day, and 21st marksman for the two-day aggregate. Elizabeth Dutton also won 33 award points, 25 for placing 1st sub junior, 2 per position on the first day, placing 9th, 11th, and 19th marksman, and 2 for placing 6th in kneeling on the second day. Lacey Hamelin placed well in the marksman category in the matches, earning her 23 award points total, and Joe Nikiforakis earned himself 14 award points, placing several times in the more difficult sharpshooter category. The Hudson Junior Rifle shooters placed third sharpshooter team in the three position matches, earning each firing member 5 award points.

In prone, there were no overall awards to be won, but the New Hampshire kids still competed well. Andrew Solomonides won 17 award points, placing well in the sharpshooter category. Joe won 5 award points for his shooting in the sharpshooter category. Elizabeth won herself 2 award points, and Bailey won 6 for her efforts. In addition, the Ferry Brook Junior Shooters Gold team, made up of Andrew Solomonides, Lacey Hamelin, Joe Nikiforakis, and Tobin Sanctuary, coached by Larry Parker, Jr., placed second Junior team overall in the metallic sights team match, earning each firing member 9 award points. In total, New Hampshire brought home many awards. One plaque, five medals, and a large sum of 179 award points made up the combined total of awards won by New Hampshire shooters, thus ending an extremely successful Camp Perry and outdoor season.

Bailey Urbach, Hudson shooter and Bronze team member

Posted 08/24/2013

GO NH Roundup

Gun Owners of New Hampshire will be hosting a Round Up on Tuesday August 20th, 2013. We are looking for new recruits that would like to join the GONH team to help us defend your Second Amendment rights here in New Hampshire. Join us Tuesday August 20th, 2013 at 6pm at the Concord Holiday Inn for the GO-NH Round Up.

We are searching for current members, new members, friends and family to become more involved with GONH, inc. Help us fight for your freedoms. This is your chance to do more by joining us in the fight to keep your rights! GONH is 100% volunteer and we can not keep doing this without more help. We work very hard to preserve and maintain your 2nd Amendment rights and it‘s time for you to step up and join with us. We need and welcome your help. The following are a list of committees that you could become involved with:

Membership Committee

Recruitment Committee

Events Committee

Legislative Committee

Merchandise Committee

Publications Committee

Communications Committee

Please come offer your help with one of these committees; If you're willing to learn, we want you. (Some times it just means showing up) Please step up; come join us.

If you are unable to attend please consider a cash or 2A related donation, as we are non-profit and rely on donations to defend and protect We, the People of New Hampshire.

There will be free food and free donated raffle giveaways. We will have an open forum with a free exchange of ideas and information on firearms and firearms legislation. The roundup will take place at 6pm in the Bartlett Room at the Holiday Inn in Concord, NH. Directly following the roundup will be an abbreviated Board of Directors meeting, starting at 7pm. We will likely continue the discussions from the roundup at this meeting.

Like all 2nd amendment organizations in this country, GO-NH realizes how much trouble this country is in. Many are working non-stop on trying to strip our 2nd Amendment rights away! Many have stated they will not stop until they succeed! We must work harder and have the strength to push on. Many gun owners say “I'm a member of the NRA”, but it's not enough. We at GO-NH, the NRA state affiliate, work, educate and inform individuals right here at the state level in New Hampshire.

Come to our roundup, bring all your family and friends, and help us preserve NH Liberty,

~Mitch Kopacz, President, Gun Owners of New Hampshire

"The Constitution Defines our Freedoms. The Second Amendment Guarantees Them"

If you are not currently a member, please consider joining by signing up for membership at:

Congratulations

Congratulations to George Gurick for winning the 2013 National Garand Championship Senior Trophy at Camp Perry Ohio last week.George took 4th place over all 1108 competitors with a score of 291-3.The first place score was only 1 point away at 292-11.

The Hudson Junior Rifle Team Wants New Members

The Hudson Fish and Game Club, NH Junior Rifle Team has SIX openings available for juniors, age 12 or more, for the upcoming year. This is a competitive paper target shooting program. The new members become part of the Team who currently hold individual and team State and National titles.Read more in the attachment below...

Junior Rifle Clinic

The Hudson Fish and Game Club Junior Rifle Team will be holding a 2 day smallbore rifle clinic for club member’s children. Ages 8 to 18 are welcome. Spots are limited so sign up early (limit 14 people).See flyer attached below.

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

PLEASE ATTEND A PEACEFUL COUNTER-RALLY THIS TUESDAY, 18 JUNE BETWEEN 5:00 P.M. & 7:00 P.M.IN FRONT OF THE N.H. STATE HOUSE IN CONCORD, N.H. TO PROVIDE OPPOSITION TO REP. SHURTLEFF'S/MAYOR BLOOMBERG'S ANTI-FIREARMS BUS TOUR AND RALLY ON THAT SAME DATE AND TIME

Gun Owners of New Hampshire is asking all members to rally in Concord on Tuesday, June 18, to counter an anti-firearms rally and bus tour being sponsored by Rep. Steven Shurtleff, and using NY Mayor Mike Bloomberg's buses to bring in anti-firearms activists from Sandy Hook and anywhere else they can find them.

We need to rally between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm in front of the NH State House. Firearms owners need to absolutely overcome this movement of anti-gunners, by showing the legislature we know the truth: Their push for "sensible firearms laws" is just code words for disarming N.H. citizens of their firearms, bit by bit.

We must let them know that N.H. is the LIVE FREE or DIE state, and we intend to keep it that way! We need to show them that Minute Men and Women still live in NH, and can be called on to stand up against challenges to our firearms civil rights both from within and from outside N.H.

We are calling on you, and any other freedom minded N.H. residents you can bring with you, to be there to unite with others that will not stand for this anti-firearms, press event sham . Let's show Rep. Shurtleff and the other anti-freedom elitists that their actions will be remembered in the next election.

Representative Stephen Shurtleff is a long time opponent of self-defense and firearms civil rights, and he is still promoting gun control. He and a few other anti-firearms groups in New Hampshire have scheduled this rally at the state house to hold some sort of vigil for the remembrance of the Sandy Hook, Connecticut victims. While we all mourn the tragedy at Sandy Hook, we need your help to educate this uninformed anti-firearms group. Aside from Rep. Shurtleff and a handful of trained anti-firearms professional protesters, many attending his rally are simply unaware of the facts surrounding their anti-firearms campaign, and are unware that the laws being promoted by their campaign are only aimed at disarming and harassing law abiding citizens, but would not have stopped the Sandy Hook tragedy, and really aren't even meant to.

They need to understand that, since Cain killed Able, inanimate objects are not the cause of violence.

So please rally in front of the State House at 5:00pm Tuesday June 18. Following the rally, we would ask you all to attend the monthly Gun Owners of New Hampshire meeting, beginning at 7:00 pm at the Concord Holiday Inn right at exit 14, near the State House.

This is an important event . Bring your friends, family, and all NH residents interested in preserving their freedoms!

Posted 06/17/2013

USA Shooting National Junior Olympic

"Back in December of 2012, juniors from around the state
competed in the USA Shooting National Junior Olympic New Hampshire State
qualifiers for Women’s and Men’s Air Rifle and Smallbore Rifle.Entries for this match are limited to
residents of New Hampshire and based on their scores and age categories, some
received invitations to compete in the National Junior Olympics at the Olympic
Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO."...

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES HEARING THIS FRIDAY, 7 JUNE AT 10:15 A.M. PLEASE CONTACT COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND URGE OPPOSITION TO OR 2012-146,

A MOVE TO ALLOW NH STATE POLICE TO CHANGE NON-RESIDENT HANDGUN RULES WITHOUT FULL LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT

The NH Committee On Administrative Rules (JLCAR) will hold a final hearing on the proposed regulation OR-2012-146, a rule to give the NH State Police the ability to change the non-resident pistol and revolver license rules, tomorrow, Friday, 7-June, at 10:15 A.M. in room 305/307 of the Legislative Office Building in Concord, NH. Your presence could make a huge impact on the outcome of this hearing!

Why do you care what happens to non resident LTC administrative rules (which essentially operate as law)? Because if these BAD CHANGES are made, the argument will be something like this: "It (the new rule) applies to non residents, and works fine, then we need to make both laws the same to be fair for legal purposes, so we now need to change NH resident LTC rules as well."

If it aint’ broke, don’t fix it. Leave non resident rules the way they are now.

Even more important as that general principle, is the fact that only the General Court may change the law! Being charged with preparation of the Pistol/Revolver Application Form does not give the NHSP the right to usurp the authority of the General Court. The New Hampshire State Police are granted ONLY the following discretionary power over Pistol/Revolver licenses, pursuant to NH RSA 159:6 I (b)::

…”The director of state police is hereby authorized and directed to prepare forms for the licenses required under this chapter and forms for the application for such licenses and to supply the same to officials of the cities and towns authorized to issue the licenses….”

This clearly does not authorize the New Hampshire State Police to attempt the power grab that their proposed rule changes would create.

There are many other reasons why this proposed rule is bad, and there are no good reasons for its passage. The NH State Police are an unelected body of enforcement professionals, but they are not a legislature, they are not bound to reflect the will of the peope of NH, and they should not be given expansive rulemaking authority over firearms rules of NH. We have a legislature for that; elected officials that are answerable to the citizens of NH, and they currently make the rules for resident and non-resident firearms carry. There is no good reason to take this rulemaking responsibility away from the NH legislature and make them blameless for bad rules.

Here are a few more of the reasons why OR 2012-146 is a bad piece of rulemaking:

1. The NHSP DO NOT have the authority to add an age limit to a non-resident LTC. In recent times, when the General Court (of elected officials) had this issue before it, (age limits) it was resoundingly defeated. If our elected officials have rejected this rule change, why should unelected officials be allowed to override their decision?

2. The new rules repeatedly reference a “form DSSP 260”. A copy of that form needs to be included. How many creative NH police chiefs have changed the required NH resident application DSSP 85 form to suit their purposes? (Hint: Too many) Do you want to give the NHSP authority to use a form you have not seen? Recall when some NH chiefs tried to require fingerprints and photographs with a LTC application, modifying the legislatively approved forms?

3. The new rules provide……[(j)] (k) Notwithstanding (b) above, an applicant's application shall be processed in accordance with these rules, if the applicant chooses not to provide his or her social security number. You can bet real money that the “optional” social security number portion will somehow be omitted from the form and “social security number required” will remain, just as has happened with resident forms, (until someone noticed it and pointed it out -- and forced the chief that was trying this cute trick to stop)

4. Can you say "arbitrary"? The New Hampshire State Police will have sole power to decide whether or not you are “suitable” to have a LTC? The court will now be virtually unable to order the State Police to issue a non resident LTC when they are wrongfully denied as the MANDATORY word “shall” has been used, and a judge’s hands will be virtually tied.

Please attend the hearing tomorrow, 7-June, 10:15 A.M. in room 305/307 of the Legislative Office Building in Concord, NH, or contact any or all of the members of the Committee On Administrative Rules, and urge them to oppose the rule giving the NH State Police the authority to change NH firearms rules any time they so choose. This committee is made up of elected NH senators and elected NH representatives, and the authority to make these rules currently lays in the NH legisla ture -- Let's leave it there!

2013 State Garand Championship

Obama to sign UN treaty

Barack Obama and the United Nations are joining forces to trample your freedom.Last month, with a lot of help from Barack Obama, the United Nations passed its global gun ban treaty.

And now, Obama is expected to sign this freedom-crushing disaster as soon as June 3rd — just days from now!!

The only way you and I can stop the Obama-U.N. collusion from trampling our Second Amendment freedoms is through the U.S. Senate.

Only the Senate can ratify treaties. So I need your help to convince a strong majority of our Senators to vote NO on the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty by signing this petition today.

Stop the UN Gun Ban Treaty. Your signed petition is the best tool we have against this attack on our gun rights and our national sovereignty. We need to line the halls of the Senate with boxes and boxes of these petitions — and every petition counts, starting with yours!

We need to send a clear message to every Senator that they have only two choices: Side with us and stop the U.N. gun ban treaty...or start looking for a new job at election time.

So please, sign your petition today ... we have zero time to lose. And after you do, I hope that you'll make a much-needed contribution to NRA-ILA so we can WIN THIS FIGHT.

We need to hammer key battleground states with hard-hitting radio and T.V. ads. We need to blanket the Senate with millions of these petitions. We need to put our grassroots boots on the ground and win every last vote we need to stop this dangerous treaty before it becomes the law of the land.

But all of this costs money, and our resources are stretched thin right now. This year, we've been forced to spend more than we've ever spent ...because the attacks we're facing have been bigger than anything we've ever faced before.

So please, sign your petition and then make an emergency contribution of $15, $25, $50, $100, or any other amount you can afford to NRA-ILA today. Every dollar counts, and every dollar will be spent stopping the Senate from ratifying the U.N. gun ban treaty.

Again, we have no time to lose...June 3rd is only DAYS away!

Working together, I know we can save our freedom from this unprecedented attack.

P.S. President Obama is threatening to sign the U.N. gun ban treaty as soon as June 3rd. You have to ACT NOW if you want to stop him and the U.N. from trampling your constitutional Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

So please, sign this petition as soon as you can. And when you do, please make an emergency contribution to NRA-ILA to help us win this fight!

NRA-ILA is putting every last ounce of our strength and energy into stopping the ratification of the U.N. gun ban treaty. But our efforts could fall short unless you help today.

I know we can win with your support. Thank you.

Sign the Petition NOW!

Posted 05/29/2013

HB 135 NEEDS TO BE ITL’D

Affirmative defenses, such as “Stand your ground” etc. are “Justification” defenses for an act-the act of defending yourself, found in RSA Chapter 627, Section 4 entitled “Physical Force in Defense of a Person” which is what HB 135 is all about. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2013/HB0135.html

If the proposed changes to RSA 627:4 in the form of HB 135 are adopted (i.e. the return to the previous version of the law-see below), the affirmative defense will no longer be available to those who are forced to defend themselves or others at places other than their home. Nothing good will come from this. Innocent New Hampshire citizens are currently being regularly, unfairly, and unreasonably charged criminally for defending themselves and will have a greatly lessened chance at being found not guilty due to inadequate jury instructions if HB 135 passes, and thus less justice, the price for HB 135….potentially years of their life in prison.

If the accused in a self defense case “wins” as in is acquitted at trial, the price many pay is their job (in many instances a cash only bail is ordered, and many people cannot afford $10k or $25k cash bail, so are kept in jail and are fired from work because they cannot go to work). Ask yourself if you were absent from work for a month or two *(or longer) because you were in jail awaiting trial, would your boss keep your job open? What about those of you who might work for less than firearm friendly corporations? What is the likelihood you would HAVE a job after the charges against you were announced? Citizens who are forced to defend themselves while at the grocery store, walking home, leaving work, or anywhere they might be currently are NOT given a “free pass” by the very weak New Hampshire “stand your ground” affirmative defense law. After they are charged criminally, they may then be allowed to raise the defenses found in RSA 627:4, including that of physical force in defense of a person.

Many people do not understand what an affirmative defense is. An affirmative defense is not a shield that protects one from criminal prosecution when one has been forced to defend him/her self. The “Stand Your Ground” law SHOULD have been codified elsewhere to do just that, but after the original bill was butchered and so weakened in 2010 as to be almost unrecognizable, this is what we ended up with. Currently when one is charged with having defended him/her self, or a third person IF they follow the Court Rules and IF they timely file a “notice of affirmative defenses” with the required Affidavit. If the judge thinks the accused has put forth enough facts/information to justify raising the defense of self defense, then an affirmative defense (i.e. “stand your ground” or other affirmative defenses such as public duty, doctrine of competing harms, physical force by persons with special responsibilities, property offenses, use of force by merchants, detention powers of country fair security guards etc.) MAY be raised to allow the accused to raise the affirmative defense of self-defense at trial. The court can also demand that the accused be even more specific in his/her filing of the “Notice of Affirmative Defense” before the court will allow the accused to raise the defense of self-defense. New Hampshire Superior Court Rules provide:

98. The following discovery and scheduling provisions shall apply to all criminal cases in the Superior Court unless otherwise modified by the presiding justice in accordance with paragraph I hereof….

B. Pretrial Disclosure by the Defendant. (1) If the defendant intends to rely upon an alibi or any other defense specified in the Criminal Code, the defendant shall within thirty (30) calendar days after the entry of a plea of not guilty file a notice to this effect with the court and the prosecution as provided in Superior Court Rules 100 and 101. http://www.courts.state.nh.us/rules/sror/sror-h3-98.htm

101. If a defendant intends to claim any defense specified by the Criminal Code, a notice of such intention setting forth the grounds therefor shall be filed with the Court, with a copy of same going to the prosecution, in accordance with the time limitations in Rule 98 or within such further time as the Court may order for good cause shown. If the defendant fails to comply with this rule, the Court may exclude any testimony relating to such defense or make such other order as the interest of justice requires. http://www.courts.state.nh.us/rules/sror/sror-h3-101.htm

The affirmative defense DOES NOT prohibit the prosecution of that person or shield that person from prosecution. The law does not let you shoot, raise the “Stand Your Ground” defense/law and walk away.

In my opinion, Ward Bird-and countless others like him who have been forced to defend themselves have had two issues relevant to HB 135 to contend with at trial, the minimum mandatory sentence (offending portion since repealed) of RSA 651:2 II (g), AND the lack of adequate semi protective jury instructions. It is bad enough that New Hampshire’s “stand your ground” law (actually far, far, far less protective than the media given title implies) is not a “law” that prohibits one who defends himself or others in a given set of circumstances from being charged. It is a law that allows one who has been charged with a criminal act to “admit” the “act” i.e. “I displayed my firearm”, and raise the “affirmative defense” of self defense, and ask to be found not guilty, because of the “justification” or affirmative defense found in RSA 627.

The justification in RSA 627:4 is what those who support this anti self defense bill want to take away from firearm owners. They falsely claim one can shoot first, claim self defense, then walk away. Not even close to the truth. I for one am terrified of having to ever defend myself, terrified about how I will be treated by anti self-defense cops and prosecutors. The limited protections found in RSA 627:4 allows one some minor chance at being found not guilty for an act of self defense.

Most recently in the Merrimack County Superior Court Case NO. 2012-CR-1308 (the jury rendered its verdict in the past

few weeks)[1] Mr. Nathan Piroso was acquitted by a jury (found not guilty) of multiple felony charges when he was forced to defend himself. (I did not try this case; Mr. Nathan Piroso was ably defended by Attorney Moir) Mr. Piroso was held in the Merrimack County jail for weeks because he could not afford bail set at $25k cash only, later reduced to 10k cash only. How many of you can write a check for $25,000.00 (twenty five thousand dollars!)? Mr. Nathan Piroso had worked at Concord Country Club for over 10 years as a groundskeeper; he lost his job, lost his apartment and far more because he could not make bail. When Mr. Piroso finally made bail, he was on pretrial release for months –which anyone will tell you is no picnic. Despite a not guilty verdict, to quote former Labor Secretary Ray Donovan, “what door do I go to, to get my reputation back?”

In early July 2012 during the late afternoon Mr. Piroso was at his ex girlfriend’s home (Mr. Piroso and his ex girlfriend have a child together) to pick up his possessions that had been stored there in a shed, (his ex girlfriend had asked him to retrieve his possessions and he had made arrangements with her to pick up his possessions and had asked that her current boyfriend not be there to avoid any type of conflict). When Nathan Piroso declined to remove property from the premises that he said did not belong to him, words were exchanged with the new boyfriend who is reportedly 6’ 3” and 230 pounds. The new boyfriend Matt was going to attack Mr. Piroso, (who per his mother is small 5’5” or 5’ 6” and about 110 pounds) with intent to harm Mr. Piroso- who was forced to draw his firearm in self defense. Mr. Piroso tried to retreat, and was charged by the new boyfriend Matt who was demonstrating extremely hostile and aggressive behavior advancing towards Mr. Piroso who was trying to retreat. Mr. Piroso did not discharge his firearm.

Luckily, Mr. Piroso brought a mutual friend with him who was also a witness to this event. After Matt started advancing towards Nathan Piroso, Nathan unlatched the strap on the holster of his firearm, and told Matt to back off, Matt kept coming, Nathan drew his firearm and ordered Matt to STOP! Matt said to Nathan “you don’t have balls enough to use it”. Now Nathan is really scared, because Matt is acting crazy-and clearly, Matt is not afraid of Nathan as Matt kept advancing on Nathan who had a firearm pointed at him. Matt jumped Nathan- they were wresting over the firearm, Mr. Piroso was choked by Matt and Katie, the ex girlfriend is reported to have jumped in too, and in the scuffle Nathan’s friend picked up the firearm. No shots were fired.

I spoke with Mr. Piroso, and he gave me permission to talk about his case in hopes that New Hampshire legislators will see that the current law is barely adequate, any less protection, and goodness knows what would have happened to Mr. Piroso who was not in his own home, but in the driveway of his ex girlfriends house. In many instances it takes vigorous argument by the attorney to convince the trial judge to give adequate jury instructions (*this is how the jury is told they must judge you, and are of paramount importance) Currently, RSA 627:4 III (a) is the law and the jury must be allowed to hear it.

What happened to Mr. Piroso could have happened to anyone. The divorce rate in this country is approximately 50% and has been

for some time. What about the multitude of child exchanges and property retrievals at the other parties’ house, where emotions are high? In many instances one spouse must defend against the other ex spouse or the ex spouses’ new mate-which sometimes result in altercations and most face this persecution alone and do not receive the press that a case such as Ward Bird did. The limited protection one may be allowed to raise in the form of an affirmative defense will be gone if HB 135 passes.

Even being in ones’ own home is not enough to prevent criminal prosecution for defending oneself against a PACK of men as cases such as Stuart Urie, of Milford who displayed his firearm while sitting on his OWN PORCH when 5 drunken men came on HIS PROPERTY looking to attack him have shown us under the prior version of RSA 627:4. Stuart was charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor counts (acquitted after two separate trials of the charges) for displaying a pistol to ward off an attack while sitting on his own porch. What about the person walking to their vehicle after shopping or work? a woman with children? a disabled person? a person leaving a sports event? a person who is lost and finds themself in a bad neighborhood? a person caring for a sick relative and driving home on a public highway? Why can’t we defend ourselves anywhere we have a right to be? Please vote to ITL the Rep. Shurtleff Criminal Protection Act.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

27Mar2013… 0341h

13-0281

04/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen

AN ACT relative to physical force in defense of a person and relative to the definition of non-deadly force.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Physical Force in Defense of a Person. Amend RSA 627:4, III to read as follows:

III. A person is not justified in using deadly force on another to defend himself or herself or a third person from deadly force by the other if he or she knows that he or she and the third person can, with complete safety:

(a) Retreat from the encounter, except that he or she is not required to retreat if he or she is within his or her dwelling[,] or its curtilage, [or anywhere he or she has a right to be,] and was not the initial aggressor; or

(b) Surrender property to a person asserting a claim of right thereto; or

(c) Comply with a demand that he or she abstain from performing an act which he or she is not obliged to perform; nor is the use of deadly force justifiable when, with the purpose of causing death or serious bodily harm, the person has provoked the use of force against himself or herself in the same encounter; or

(d) If he or she is a law enforcement officer or a private person assisting the officer at the officer's direction and was acting pursuant to RSA 627:5, the person need not retreat.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Posted 05/23/2013

New Hampshire: State Senate Scheduled to Consider Shurtleff Criminal Protection Bill this Thursday

Contact your state Senator TODAY in opposition to House Bill 135

In March, the New Hampshire House of Representatives undermined your inherent right to self-defense by passing the Shurtleff Criminal Protection Bill, House Bill 135, by a 189-184 vote. The state Senate is scheduled to consider HB 135 and decide the fate of this misguided proposal this Thursday. If passed and enacted into law, HB 135 would repeal important self-defense provisions enacted in 2011 and make the following changes to New Hampshire’s current self-defense laws:

Eliminates the provision that allows a person to use deadly force anywhere he or she has a legal right to be. Amends the definition of non-deadly force by removing the provision that specifies the act of producing or displaying a weapon is considered non-deadly force. Thus, drawing or exhibiting your firearm to intimidate a perpetrator could be considered deadly force. Repeals the provision granting civil immunity for the use of force in self-defense thereby allowing criminals to sue their victims. In the face of an unlawful attack, law-abiding citizens should not be forced to retreat or run from a place they have a legal right to be. It is unreasonable for victims of crime to worry about being arrested or prosecuted if they use force to defend themselves or their family. Any victim should be able to presume that an unlawful attacker or forcible intruder is there for the purpose of doing harm.

Given the alarming passage of this legislation in the state House, it is critical that you contact your state Senator TODAY. Let him or her know that you oppose New Hampshire going back to “business as usual” with judges and courts putting the rights of criminals before the rights of the law-abiding.

Remember, the state Senate is the last line of defense to stop this bill from going to Governor Maggie Hassan (D) for her approval. Ask your state Senator whether he or she plans to vote for the rights of law-abiding citizens or criminals on Thursday. Click here for contact information and help identifying your state Senator in Concord.

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

A MOVE TO ALLOW NH STATE POLICE TO CHANGE NON-RESIDENT HANDGUN RULES WITHOUT FULL LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT

The NH Committee On Administrative Rules (JLCAR) will hold a brief hearing on the proposed regulation FP-2012-146, a rule to give the NH State Police the ability to change the non-resident pistol and revolver license rules.

Why do you care what happens to non resident LTC administrative rules (which essentially operate as law)? Because if these BAD CHANGES are made, the argument will be something like this: "It (the new rule) applies to non residents, and works fine, and we need to make both laws the same to be fair for legal purposes, so we now need to change NH resident LTC rules as well."

If it aint’ broke, don’t fix it. Leave non resident rules the way they are now.

There are many reasons why this proposed rule is bad, and there are no good reasons for its passage. The NH State Police are an unelected body of enforcement professionals, but they are not a legislature, they are not bound to reflect the will of the peope of NH, and they should not be given expansive rulemaking authority over firearms rules of NH. We have a legislature for that; elected officials that are answerable to the citizens of NH, and they currently make the rules for resident and non-resident firearms carry. There is no good reason to take this rulemaking responsibility away from them and make them blameless for bad rules.

Here are just a few of the reasons FP 2012-146 is a bad piece of rulemaking:

1. The new rules repeatedly reference a “form DSSP 260”. A copy of that form needs to be included. How many creative NH police chiefs have changed the required NH resident application DSSP 85 form to suit their purposes? (Hint: Too many) Do you want to give the NHSP authority to use a form you have not seen? Recall when some NH chiefs tried to require fingerprints and photographs with a LTC application, modifying the legislatively approved forms?

2. The new rules provide……[(j)] (k) Notwithstanding (b) above, an applicant's application shall be processed in accordance with these rules, if the applicant chooses not to provide his or her social security number. You can bet real money that the “optional” social security number portion will somehow be omitted from the form and “social security number required” will remain, just as has happened with resident forms, (until someone noticed it and pointed it out -- and forced the chief that was trying this cute trick to stop)

3. Can you say "arbitrary"? The New Hampshire State Police will have sole power to decide whether or not you are “suitable” to have a LTC? The court will now be virtually unable to order the State Police to issue a non resident LTC when they are wrongfully denied as the MANDATORY word “shall” has been used, and a judge’s hands will be virtually tied.

Please contact any or all of the members of the Committee On Administrative Rules, and urge them to oppose the rule giving the NH State Police the authority to change NH firearms rules any time they so choose. This committee is made up of elected NH senators and elected NH representatives, and the authority to make these rules currently lays in the NH legislature -- Let's leave it there!

Posted 04/18/2013

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!v

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR AND URGE OPPOSITION TO HB135VOTE IS TUESDAY, 23-APRIL-2013!

The NH House passed HB135 by a narrow margin last month, but we still have an opportunity to get this vindictive civil rights rollback killed, when it goes for a hearing in the NH Senate.

HB135 represents a reversal of the self defense gains made in 2011's legislation. In other words, your safety must take a back seat to national Gun Grabber politics, which are aimed at removing any protection for your firearms and self defense civil rights.

Please find your State Senator(if you don't already know who that is) and please call his/her office, and tell your senator that you are a constituent and you want HB135 to be defeated. Your phone call may be the one that convinces him or her that HB135 is a really bad bill, or even just not worth the political damage of a bad vote.

Please ask all your like minded friends to contact their senator to oppose HB135.

Posted 04/18/2013

SENATOR AYOTTE ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR PROTECTING COMMUNITIES AND PRESERVING THE SECOND AMENDMENT ACT

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) announced today that she is an original co-sponsor of the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act – legislation that reauthorizes and improves the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), increases resources for prosecutions of gun crime, addresses mental health gaps in the criminal justice system, and responsibly addresses gun violence by criminalizing straw purchasing of firearms and gun trafficking. She also announced that she is co-sponsoring the bipartisan Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act, which includes provisions she helped author that improve mental health first aid.

Senator Ayotte released the following statement regarding the legislation as well as the current debate in the Senate:

“Last week, I voted to initiate Senate debate on preventing violence and protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans. Several proposals have been brought forward, and I’ve been carefully reviewing them all.

“There are responsible steps that can be taken to stop criminals and others who are already prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law from obtaining them. With those principles as a guide, I am cosponsoring the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act, which includes needed reforms to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, addresses mental health gaps in the criminal justice system, and criminalizes gun trafficking and straw purchases.

“To further address the need to improve the nation’s mental health system, I also am co-sponsoring the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act. This bipartisan measure includes provisions of legislation I helped introduce that seek to improve mental health first aid training and increase the effectiveness of mental health care across the nation.

“I believe that restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners will not prevent a deranged individual or criminal from obtaining and misusing firearms to commit violence. While steps must be taken to improve the existing background check system, I will not support the Manchin-Toomey legislation, which I believe would place unnecessary burdens on law-abiding gun owners and allow for potential overreach by the federal government into private gun sales.”

Background:

Given the connections between mass violence and mental illness, Senator Ayotte has cosponsored two bipartisan mental health bills – the Begich-Ayotte-Blumenthal Mental Health First Aid Act (S. 153) and the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Act (S. 162) – focused on providing training and resources for law enforcement and other community partners to help them identify individuals with mental health issues and make sure they receive proper treatment.

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

The U.S. Senate has begun consideration of the anti-firearms
civil rights bill S.649, the so-called "Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of
2013".

As usual, despite the Orwellian title of this bill, it has
little-to-nothing to do with community or school safety, but is instead a
christmas tree for anti-firearms legislation. Every gun-hater in the Senate is
looking to add or join amendments to this bill to impose their pet draconian
punishments for exercising your firearms civil rights.

The NRA's Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) has
issued this alert on S.649. ILA's alert lists many reasons why this bill is only
designed to eliminate your Second Amendment rights, and all that is before any
amendments have been added! Here is a link to NRA-ILA's letter to the U.S. Senate regarding S.649's anti-firearms provisions)

Senator Ayotte has said she will oppose this bad bill, but
Senator Shaheen has indicated she will support it (and probably all bad
amendments). Please contact senators Ayotte and Shaheen, and let them know you
join GO-NH and NRA-ILA in opposing this bill and any anti-firearms civil rights
amendments. Tell them you want a bill with meaningful provisions to enhance
school security, increase focus on mental health issues, and prosecute and jail
violent criminals. Tell them abridging the firearms rights of law-abiding
citizens will not make our schools or communities safer, and will in fact do the
opposite.

You can call Senator Ayotte at 202-224-3324. Senator Shaheen's
phone number is 202-224-2841. You should call BOTH senators, so that they know
your position on S.649, and to bolster Senator Ayotte's resolve to oppose this
bad bill.

GO-NH is the New Hampshire State Affiliate of the National
Rifle Association.

Posted 04/17/2013

Message from the NRA

Tomorrow, April 16, the U.S. Senate will begin consideration
of a number of anti-gun proposals. The underlying bill is S. 649, the so-called
“Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013”, which would significantly restrict
our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

S. 649 seeks to criminalize the private transfer of firearms
by law-abiding citizens, requiring friends, neighbors and many family members to
get government permission to exercise a fundamental right or face
prosecution. Among the amendments that will likely be offered to S.
649 are a ban on commonly and lawfully-owned firearms and magazines and language
to criminalize the private transfer of firearms through an expansion of
background checks. This includes the misguided background check
“compromise” proposal drafted by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Pat Toomey (R-PA)
and Chuck Schumer (D-NY)—a proposal NRA strongly opposes!

NRA unequivocally opposes S. 649 and all anti-gun amendments
to this bill!

For weeks, you have diligently contacted your U.S. Senators
and asked them to oppose S. 649 and all anti-gun amendments, while urging
support for reforms that respect gun owners’ rights, and enhance the safety of
all Americans. Now, in these crucial next days, in addition to continuing
to contact your U.S. Senators with these important messages, our challenge to
you is to spread the word! Please contact a minimum of five of your
family, friends, or fellow firearm owners and ensure they contact their U.S.
Senators immediately with this same message!

If you can add five additional voices in this debate, we will
be heard loud and clear over the constant drumbeat of the gun control
crowd. This is the battle of our lifetimes, so we have to do everything we
can to defend freedom!

Please continue contacting your Senators and find five others
to do the same. You can use the "Write Your Reps" feature at www.NRAILA.org,
or you can reach your U.S. Senators by phone at 202-224-3121.

The time to act is NOW! Ask your Senators to oppose S.
649 and all anti-gun amendments – including the anti-gun Schumer-Manchin-Toomey
proposal! And please find five more to do the same!"

Posted 04/17/2013

Update on NRA Position

April 10, 2013

Dear Senator,

I
am writing regarding the National Rifle Association’s position on several
firearms-related proposals under consideration in the Senate.

S.
649, the “Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013”, introduced on March 21,
contains a number of provisions that would unfairly infringe upon the Second
Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners. This legislation would criminalize
the private transfer of firearms by honest citizens, requiring friends,
neighbors and many family members to get government permission to exercise a
fundamental right or face prosecution. The NRA is unequivocally opposed to S.
649.

In
addition, the NRA will oppose any amendments offered to S. 649 that restrict
fundamental Second Amendment freedoms; including, but not limited to, proposals
that would ban commonly and lawfully owned firearms and magazines or criminalize
the private transfer of firearms through an expansion of background checks.
This includes the misguided “compromise” proposal drafted by Senators Joe
Manchin, Pat Toomey and Chuck Schumer. As we have noted previously, expanding
background checks, at gun shows or elsewhere, will not reduce violent crime or
keep our kids safe in their schools. Given the importance of these issues,
votes on all anti-gun amendments or proposals will be considered in NRA’s future
candidate evaluations.

Rather than focus its efforts on
restricting the rights of America’s 100 million law-abiding gun owners, there
are things Congress can do to fix our broken mental health system; increase
prosecutions of violent criminals; and make our schools safer. During
consideration of S. 649, should one or more amendments be offered that
adequately address these important issues while protecting the fundamental
rights of law-abiding gun owners, the NRA will offer our enthusiastic support
and consider those votes in our future candidate evaluations as
well.

We
hope the Senate will replace the current provisions of S. 649 with language that
is properly focused on addressing mental health inadequacies; prosecuting
violent criminals; and keeping our kids safe in their schools. Should it fail
to do so, the NRA will make an exception to our standard policy of not “scoring”
procedural votes and strongly oppose a cloture motion to move to final passage
of S. 649.

Should you have any questions on
these issues, please do not hesitate to contact me at (202)
651-2560.

Sincerely,

Chris W. Cox

Posted 4/14/2013

U.S. Senate Sets Stage for Gun Control Votes

From the NRA...

"Today (April 11), by a vote of 68-31, the U.S. Senate voted to move forward with debate and votes on a variety of gun control proposals.

The underlying bill that will be considered by the Senate is S. 649, the so-called “Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013”. This bill would criminalize the private transfer of firearms by law-abiding citizens, requiring friends, neighbors and many family members to get government permission to exercise a fundamental right or face prosecution. It is expected that a number of amendments will be offered to S. 649, including a ban on commonly and lawfully-owned firearms and magazines and language to criminalize the private transfer of firearms through an expansion of background checks. This includes the misguided “compromise” proposal drafted by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

NRA’s position on these proposals is unmistakably clear—we are unequivocally opposed to S. 649, the amendments mentioned above, and any other anti-gun amendments. As we have noted previously, expanding background checks at gun shows or elsewhere will not reduce violent crime or keep our kids safe in their schools. Given the importance of these issues, votes on all anti-gun amendments or proposals will be considered in NRA’s future candidate evaluations.

If the Senate is truly concerned about enhancing safety, rather than political grandstanding, it will replace the current provisions of S. 649 with language that is properly focused on addressing mental health inadequacies; prosecuting violent criminals; and keeping our kids safe in their schools.

The next round of votes on these measures are likely to occur on Tuesday, April 16.

The most important thing NRA members and Second Amendment supporters can do right now is to call, email, write and fax their U.S. Senators, urging them to oppose S. 649 and all anti-gun amendments to that bill, and to encourage your family, friends and fellow firearm owners to do the same. To identify and contact your legislators in Washington, D.C., you can use the "Write Your Reps" feature at www.NRAILA.org, or you can reach your member of Congress by phone at 202-224-3121.

To read NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox’s letter that was sent to Senators prior to today’s procedural vote, click here."

Posted 04/12/2013

2013 NH / CCF&G Whistler Boy Team Tryouts MAY 11

Ladies & Gentlemen. Here is the Program for our annual Spring CMP Prone Match AND TRYOUTS for Whistler Boy Teams. Mr Gurick advises me that Gun Owners of NH will again sponsor 3 Smallbore Whistler Boy Teams (6 NH Junior Shooters) at the 2013 National Matches. This match is the event to earn one of those 6 spots and open to ALL Junior (age 10-20) Residents of NH.We will run as many relays as needed.

Senate Vote on "Universal Background Checks"

Dear Friend,

Your Second Amendment freedoms are on the chopping block RIGHT NOW and ONLY YOU can save them.

Next week, your Senators are scheduled to vote on a so-called "universal background check" bill being pushed by lifelong anti-gun zealot, Senator Chuck Schumer. Schumer's bill would MAKE YOU A CRIMINAL if you simply transfer a firearm to an aunt, uncle, cousin or lifelong friend without the federal government's approval.

Even worse, President Barack Obama's Justice Department says that Schumer's bill will only be effective if it's coupled with MANDATORY GUN REGISTRATION.

Please call both of your U.S. Senators TODAY and tell them to vote "NO" on Schumer's "universal background check" bill. Simply call the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your Senators by name.

Call today, tomorrow, and put a reminder on your calendar to call next week too!

Think about it. Are criminals going to walk into a licensed gun dealer's store and fill out a federal form every time they want to give one of their criminal buddies a gun? Of course not! And Schumer knows it...he's just trying to play us for fools.

This isn't about making Americans safer...it's about leading law-abiding gun owners down the road to gun registration - and ultimately, GUN CONFISCATION - just like we watched happen in England and Australia.

So please, call your Senators RIGHT NOW and tell them to vote "NO" on Chuck Schumer's "universal background check" bill! Tell them you aren't fooled and they shouldn't be either!

And please, forward this email to your friends and family and urge them to take immediate action.

P.S. We can't leave anything to chance in this battle. So I've had our staff prepare tens of thousands of NRA-ILA's famous action alert postcards that we can mail to gun owners in key states. These cards can be in the hands of our best grassroots activists in a matter of just two days - perfect timing if we want to generate the thousands of phone calls we need to stop Schumer's anti-gun bill from passing!

But to get these cards in the mail I need YOU to make an urgent contribution to NRA-ILA today. If you give just $5 you'll cover the postage for 20 postcards...$10 will double the power of your grassroots activism by helping us mail 40 postcards!

Again, on behalf of everyone here at NRA-ILA, thank you for your strong leadership and support!

Posted 04/03/2012

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR REPS (AND ESPECIALLY THESE DEMOCRAT REPS IF YOU ARE A CONSTITUENT) AND URGE THEM TO VOTE DOWN HB135VOTE IS WEDNESDAY, 27-MAR-2013!

The final (floor) vote on HB135 was scheduled for Wednesday, March 20th, but the Democrat leadership decided to postpone the vote until Wednesday, March 27th. YOUR CALLS ARE HAVING AN IMPACT!! You should call your reps and urge them to defeat this terrible bill, but especially if your rep is one of the following Democrats that plan to vote FOR HB135, a bad bill that reverses some of the gains in pro-self-defense legislation from 2011's session. It is believed these Democrats can be convinced to vote AGAINST HB135 if they hear from their constituents.

Please find your State Representatives (if you don't already know who they are) and please call their office(s) and tell them you are a constituent and you want them to oppose HB135, especially if one or more are on this list.

HB135 represents a roll back of the self defense gains made in 2011's legislation. In other words, your safety must take a back seat to national Gun Grabber politics, which are aimed at removing any protection for your firearms and self defense civil rights.

We really can't afford to let this bill pass!

These are the Democrat Representatives that need to be called:

Please be respectful, but firm in your demand that they vote against stripping you of these hard-won self defense protections. Also remind them that if they set a dangerous precedent of repealing newly passed bills for political reasons, this may result in their bills being repealed or reversed in future legislative sessions.

It is highly advisable to call ALL of your reps and let them know that you expect them to vote AGAINST HB135. Your phone call may be the one that convinces him or her that HB135 is a rally bad bill, or even just not worth the political damage of a bad vote.

Outdoor Channel leaves Colorado

I met you yesterday after the so-called "public hearings" on the antigun bills; as I mentioned, I am an Executive Producer for OUTDOOR CHANNEL. I currently have four series in production, including GUN STORIES, the top show on OC, with several additional series in development. My series focus on guns, hunting, shooting and the outdoors.

This morning I met with my three Producers, and we made the decision that if these antigun bills become law, we will be moving all of our production OUT of Colorado. We have already cancelled a scheduled filming session for late this month. Obviously, part of this is due to our own commitment to the right to keep and bear arms, but it also reflects 3 lawyers' opinions that these laws are so poorly drafted and so designed to trap otherwise legal citizens into a crime (one of our attorneys referred to them as "flypaper laws") that it is simply too dangerous for us to film here.

I can give you chapter and verse on the legal implications if you need, but suffice to say that the first legal opinion was so scary we went out and got two others. Al three attorneys agreed.

We are relatively small potatoes in television, but our relocation of production will cost Colorado a little less than a million dollars in 2013.

Secondly, we have proudly promoted Colorado in our productions (and have been moving more and more production into the state); now we will do exactly the opposite. What does this mean for Colorado? The community of television producers is a small one. Last week I had lunch with a major network producer who was looking to locate his new reality series in Colorado. That producer is also a shooter, and the new reality series will now be based out of Phoenix. That lunch cost Colorado over a million in economic impact.

Thirdly, according to numbers I received from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (for whom I used to work) yesterday, hunting had an almost $800,000,000 impact on Colorado in 2012, driving as many as 8330 jobs. Next month I will be in Texas meeting with most of the top outdoor/hunting producers, and the Number One agenda item will be Colorado. Already, hunting organizations and statewide hunting clubs around the country are pulling out of Colorado, and we expect this trend to accelerate rapidly.

The message we will take to our viewers and listeners is that these proposed laws are so dangerous to hunters and any other person, be she a fisherman or a skier who brings a handgun into the state for self-defense, that we cannot recommend hunting, fishing or visiting Colorado. We reach millions of people, and, quite frankly, we have a credibility that Colorado government officials can no longer match. Colorado Division of Wildlife is already running ads trying to bring more out-of-state hunters to Colorado...in light of the flood of negative publicity about these proposed laws, I can assure you those ads will fail.

We estimate that as many as one-quarter to one-third of out-of-state hunters will desert Colorado in the next 18-24 months, which will quite frankly be a disaster for the hunting industry in Colorado and have a devastating effect on our western and northern communities (certainly citieslike Grand Junction).

This is not a "boycott" in the traditional sense of a centralized, organized operation; rather, it is more of a grassroots decision on where shooters, hunters and other sportsmen are willing to spend their money. Look at the collapse of the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in February. That venerable multimillion dollar trade show chose to ban modern sporting rifles and standard capacity magazines, and within three weeks it collapsed as all vendors and sponsors pulled out.

Colorado is going to pay a huge price for laws that will do nothing. Thank you, sir, for your support.Best.

Please contact your State Representatives and respectfully DEMAND they kill HB135 (PDF version). Tell your reps that you support GONH's position on KILLING this Bill. This Bill Must Not Pass the House floor vote! The bill passed the committee on basically a party line vote, with 2 Republicans, Rep. Steve Valliancourt of Manchester and Dennis Fields of Sanbornton, defecting and voting with the Democrats. While there have been rumors on Facebook of this bill being voted on this week, we have found it is not on the House Calendar for this week. However, it would not be beyond the House leadership to sneak a vote in without notice, in order to give cover to some legislators who would otherwise receive a lot of heat before their votes. We are watching this closely, but don't give your legislators any wiggle room to claim they did not hear from you before voting on this awful bill.

The Democrats are attempting to remove the Stand Your Ground law that was passed last year (with a good deal of work from pro-firearms groups). With all of the anti-gun bills the majority party is trying to pass in the House, and more of our liberties being taken away from us at every turn, we need all of you NOW MORE THAN EVER to help us KILL this legislation that removes our liberties and protections in NH.

Remember, the Anti-Firearms, Anti-Self-Defense elites that are in charge in the NH House, are (predictably) determined to undo and reverse any protection for your firearms civil rights and self defense rights, and passing this bill would be an incentive for eliminating more of your civil rights in the weeks and months to come.

Remember, HB135 eliminates the provision allowing a person to use deadly force anywhere he or she has a right to be, (negatively) amends the definition of non-deadly force, and repeals the provision granting civil immunity for the use of force in certain circumstances. In other words, it tries to return us to the Massachussetts-style "RUN AWAY!!" anti-self defense strategy, leading to more lawful citizens getting "Ward Bird"ed in the future: Ward Bird is no longer in prison, but he will NEVER get his firearms back.

Make no mistake about it: This is a major attempt to roll back your Firearms and Self-Defense civil rights, from elites that consider you SUBJECTS of THEIR RULE. But they are not our masters -- they are Public Servants! As such, we need to tell our servants that they may not destroy any of our hard won firearms civil rights

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

Please contact your State Representatives and ask them to support HB382. This bill reduces the nonresident fee for obtaining a Pistol/Revolver License. The committee voted to ITL (Inexpedient to Legislate, or to Kill) this bill with a vote of 17-2. This was much more than a party line vote: Republicans voted for this bill to be killed as well as the Democrats! Please call, email or fax your State Reps and respectfully DEMAND they pass this Bill.

In 2009, the Democrats raised the fees for non-resident pistol revolver licenses. As always, they are raising fees and taxing anything that breathes. This bill will reduce the fee for non-residents, applying for a Pistol/Revolver License, back to the levels of $20.00 as it was before the Democrats took control of the State in 2009, when they raised it to $100.00. By raising the fees it became a financial burden to people that wish to exercise their Constitutional Rights. This Bill must pass!

Please Call and/or Write your state reps before Wednesday, 6 Mar, when this bill will be voted on during a House Floor Vote. Also remember that, when out of state folks can legally carry in NH, they spend more time and hence more money here, so there is a financial incentive as well as a civil rights benefit

This bill permits the use of firearms and firecrackers, for the firing or discharge of a cannon, gun, pistol, or other firearm, within the compact part of a town or city for military or veterans events, or national holidays. The committee voted to ITL (Inexpedient to Legislate, or to Kill) this bill with a vote of 13-6. Please call, email or fax your State Reps and respectfully ask them to pass this Bill. The anti-firearms elitists are always looking for ways to curtail and roll back your firearms civil rights, and this bill goes, just a small bit, in the right direction of preserving and protecting those rights. Please Call and/or Write your state reps before Wednesday, 6 Mar, when this bill will be voted on during a House Floor Vote.

2013 New Hampshire Junior Olympic Rifle Championships

The 2013 New Hampshire Junior Olympic Rifle Championships came to an exciting
close this past December as we wrapped up the Smallbore Rifle Championship (Dec
8th and 20th) and Air Rifle Championship (Dec 22nd).

For the women, Lacey Hamelin of Chesterfield took the gold in smallbore
dominating the field (543) and beating out Elizabeth Dutton of Derry, the silver
medalist, by 20 points (523). Bailey Urbach of Hudson secured the bronze
medal with a score of 494.

The men’s smallbore championship was shot over two different dates (Dec 8th
and 20th). Joe Nikiforakis of Swanzey took an early lead shooting a solid
score of 553 followed by Andrew Solomonides of Gilsum with a 530. We had
to wait until the final relay on Dec 20th to see if there were any changes to
the standings. Alex Martin of Swanzey was able to edge into the lead and
secured the gold medal firing an excellent score of 558. Joe held on for
the silver and J3 Zach Wambsganss of Hudson shot a personal best 535 edging out
Andrew for the bronze.

The Air Rifle championship was held on December 22nd and there was plenty of
excitement to be had. Joe Nikiforakis was able to hold off Alex Martin and
was able to secure the gold medal shooting a 572. Alex was able to secure
the silver medal shooting a 563. Andrew Solimonides gave Jarred Dassler of
Salem a run for this money but came up short by just two points. Jarred
rounded out the men’s medalists with a personal best score of 559 taking home
the bronze.

The Women’s Air Rifle match had three competitors within 6 points of each
other. Grace Hackler of Keene shot a 351 but it wasn’t enough as Bailey
Urbach (silver) edged out Lacey Hamelin (bronze) by a single point, 357 to
356. Youngster Elizabeth Dutton dominated the women’s field shooting a 371
and taking home the gold! Elizabeth was quoted as saying “On my last shot,
I was so excited I couldn’t stop shaking! I don’t know how but I shot a
10!”.

All four of the gold medal winners have received invitations from USA
Shooting (US Olympic governing body) to compete in the National Junior
Olympics.

I’d like to thank the staff from the Hudson Fish and Game Junior Rifle team
for their assistance running the match, the competitors for traveling from far
and wide to compete and of course the parents for the encouragement and support
of our kids.

MINUTEMAN ALERT

HUNDREDS OF CONCERNED CITIZENS ATTENDED TUESDAY'S HEARING ON THE ANTI-SELF DEFENSE BILL HB135 THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CALLS, LETTERS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUR PRESENCE AT THE HEARING!

The ground report from several GO-NH directors is that there was terrific turnout at today's hearing! GO-NH members, directors, and hundreds of other concerned citizens (estimated to be between 350-400 in Representative's Hall at its peak) showed up to speak their mind and show support for killing this poorly conceived attempt to curtail your right to defend yourself and make you criminally and civilly liable if you do!

HB135, the bill in question, eliminates the provision allowing a person to use deadly force anywhere he or she has a right to be, (negatively) amends the definition of non-deadly force, and repeals the provision granting civil immunity for the use of force in certain circumstances. In other words, it tries to return us to the Massachussetts-style "RUN AWAY!!" anti-self defense strategy, leading to more lawful citizens getting "Ward Bird"ed in the future. As one GO-NH director put it, "You have a right to defend your life in your home, but not in a parking garage?"

The Manchester Union Leader also reported on the hearing and you can read it here.

The hearing started at 1:30 P.M., and was still going as of 6:15 P.M. according to one director, who had to leave then for business reasons. The attendees were overwhelmingly opposed to HB135, including more than a dozen legislators who also spoke in opposition to the bill. To one observer, the only legislator strongly in favor of the bill was its sponsor, Rep. Shurtleff (D-Merr 11).

As this was a committee hearing, the full House will have to vote on the bill if it is not killed by the Criminal Justice Committee (and that could happen within a week or less). For that reason, it is important to call or write your Representative(s) to let them know you oppose the bill, and will remember a bad vote at the next election. As always, be polite, but also be firm -- This bill deserves to be stopped and you expect your rep(s) to help make that happen. If you don't already know your rep(s) contact info, you can find it here: State Representatives.

Make no mistake about it: This is just the opening salvo in what promises to be a long and contentious session of the NH Legislature, where Anti-Firearms, Anti-Self-Defense elites will seek to ban everything they can, repeal any protection for firearms owners, and impose the most onerous penalties they can for simply exercising your 2nd Amendment, firearms civil rights.

Here is the complete bill text of HB135 as it was heard today. Please ask your reps to oppose HB135 and find it Inexpedient To Legislate (ITL: a fancy legislator's term meaning the bill is a bad idea). Please call or write your legislator(s) that you oppose this rollback of your self-defense civil rights.

Following is a sample letter to your legislator, from one of our members (you should modify it to reflect your own concerns):

To: Members of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee:

I am a resident of (.................), NH. I am opposed to HB135 and I ask you to oppose it as well. What would you do if you or your family were threatened? We have many citizens who are incapacitated to some degree and will not be capable of fleeing a threat!

A law which compels a person to run to avoid a threat is a disingenuous limitation of options.

If I were to have the opportunity to leave a dangerous situation safely, of course I would pursue that option. However if I do not have a choice am I expected to suffer pain, injury or death simply because someone thinks that it should be my only legal choice?

No matter how many laws are created, absolute safety will never be achieved. The people of Germany learned that lesson the hard way starting in 1933 with Hitler's Gun Prohibition Laws. Hitler promised the German people safety and what they got was slavery. The same situation happened in every country or dominion which fell under his power. History is replete with such events! Each person has a natural right to self-defense. It is written in our state and national constitutions.

Please keep these points in mind when HB135 comes up for consideration.

Please contact your State Representatives and ask them to oppose HB135, a bad bill to reverse some of the gains in pro-self-defense legislation from last year's session. Please Call, Write, Or Attend the hearing on HB 135 on Tuesday, Jan 22 @ 1:30 PM LOB 204. The Anti-Firearms, Anti-Self-Defense elites are in charge in the NH House again, and they are (predictably) determined to undo and reverse any protection for your firearms civil rights and self defense rights. The bill in question eliminates the provision allowing a person to use deadly force anywhere he or she has a right to be, (negatively) amends the definition of non-deadly force, and repeals the provision granting civil immunity for the use of force in certain circumstances. In other words, it tries to return us to the Massachussetts-style "RUN AWAY!!" anti-self defense strategy, leading to more lawful citizens getting "Ward Bird"ed in the future: Ward Bird is no longer in prison, but he will NEVER get his firearms back. Make no mistake about it: This is just the opening salvo in what promises to be a long and contentious session of the NH Legislature, where Anti-Firearms, Anti-Self-Defense elites will seek to ban everything they can, repeal any protection for firearms owners, and impose the most onerous penalties they can for simply exercising your 2nd Amendment, firearms civil rights.

Please ask your reps to oppose HB135 and find it Inexpedient To Legislate (ITL: a fancy legislator's term meaning the bill is a bad idea). If you can, please attend the hearing: Tuesday, 22-Jan-2013 @ 1:30 P.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY) Please also call the members of the committee and ask them to oppose this rollback of your self-defense civil rights.

Minute Man Alert

Clarification About The Proposed "Guns Across America" Event, Saturday, January 19, "High noon", at the State House in Concord, NH

NOTE: THIS EVENT IS NOT SPONSORED BY GO-NH This Saturday, January 19, 2013, there MAY be a rally at the NH State House (or nearby) in Concord, NH, starting at noon, according to several mailings GO-NH members have received in recent days.

There are supposed to be similar rallies at state capitols across the country, also on Saturday, Jan. 19. GO-NH does not have full information on this proposed rally, as this rally is not the work of GO-NH. GO-NH is neither encouraging nor discouraging members from attending this or any other (non GO-NH sponsored) rally in support of the right to bear arms or the U.S. Constitution, but is warning its members (as it does for any official pro-firearms rally) that the press may be present and may be looking for any and all negative images of firearms owners, in order to disparage NH, the right to keep and bear arms, and firearms rights advocacy groups.

To this extent, GO-NH offers these recommendations for anyone planning to attend the proposed rally on Saturday (or any other pro-firearms rally, for that matter):

Do not wear camouflage clothing; Wear the best clothing possible for the weather conditions

Do not litter or leave signs, posters, etc. behind after the rally, except in approved trash recepticles

If you carry openly, keep handguns holstered and carry long guns in a safe and non threatening manner; Note that, due to the overwhelmingly negative reporting by most press organizations, GO-NH recommends that you NOT carry openly at any pro-firearms rally

If you don't have a license to carry concealed, make sure no part of your clothing obscures the firearm from view (i.e it is "openly" carried) and also be sure that you do not carry the firearm loaded and/or concealed in a motor vehicle (per RSA 159:4)

Be aware that RSA 111:15 Armed Civilian Groups (link here) provides penalties (including misdemeanor charges and firearms confiscation) if you are armed and perceived as participating in a "combination of persons" as described in the statute

In general, avoid contact with the press but, if you must make contact with them, be respectful and stick to relevant points when speaking about firearms and your right to own them; The press is always looking for an attendee to who is inarticulate and will present firearms advocates in a bad light: Don't be that attendee!

If you do see someone behaving poorly or stupidly, and you have a still or video camera, please take as many pictures or record as much video of the miscreant as possible -- It may be a plant from one of the many anti-firearms civil rights organizations, and your video or stills could help to identify the person and their anti-firearms organization

If you do attend the rally, you are encouraged to take pictures and videos of the rally, to show how peaceful and respectful lawful firearms owners really are.

Posted 01/17/2013

Statement From the NRA Regarding White House Task Force Meeting

"Fairfax, Va. – The National Rifle Association of America is made up of over 4 million moms and dads, daughters and sons, who are involved in the national conversation about how to prevent a tragedy like Newtown from ever happening again. We attended today's White House meeting to discuss how to keep our children safe and were prepared to have a meaningful conversation about school safety, mental health issues, the marketing of violence to our kids and the collapse of federal prosecutions of violent criminals.

We were disappointed with how little this meeting had to do with keeping our children safe and how much it had to do with an agenda to attack the Second Amendment. While claiming that no policy proposals would be “prejudged,” this Task Force spent most of its time on proposed restrictions on lawful firearms owners - honest, taxpaying, hardworking Americans. It is unfortunate that this Administration continues to insist on pushing failed solutions to our nation's most pressing problems. We will not allow law-abiding gun owners to be blamed for the acts of criminals and madmen. Instead, we will now take our commitment and meaningful contributions to members of congress of both parties who are interested in having an honest conversation about what works - and what does not."

Posted 01/11/2013

NRA Press Conference on Sandy Hook, CT

The Nashua Telegraph Has An Integrity Deficit

By Rick Olsen (Dec 31 2012)

'Two days ago, the Nashua Telegraph wrote an Editorial asking, “Why does the NRA fear truth about guns?” Upon carefully reading the article and researching the sources (or lack thereof) to support the claims made by the Telegraph, the rank laziness, partisan advocacy of gun control, and an utter lack of integrity emerged in the Telegraph anti-second amendment article.'

No Firearms Ban Coming? Think Again.

Thank You!

Thank you all for coming to support the Mountain View Gun Club--the overwhelming show of support for the Club was very gratifying. It was expected to be the final hearing-however, it was not the final hearing for Mountain View, and public comment on the merits of the project was not allowed-that will come later. The large showing of support was far from wasted.

Posted 11/21/2012

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

IMPORTANT FINAL HEARING FOR MOUNTAIN VIEW GUN CLUB IN NEWPORT, NH ON TUESDAY, 13 NOVEMBER AT 7:00 P.M.HELP THIS GUN CLUB RETURN TO SULLIVAN COUNTY.

Final hearing is Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 7:00 P.M. in the gymnasium of the Newport High School in Newport, NH right on Route 10 at 245 Main Street.

The Mountain View Gun Club lost the use of its land a few years ago. They now have a chance to build a new state-of-the-art range. The range is to be on 68 acres of industrial zoned land in Newport on NH Route 10. Built to NSSF National Shooting Sports Foundation (http://nssf.org/) standards, currently, there are no ranges convenient to our Sullivan County residents.

Each year it gets harder to build new ranges. We have good local support but unfortunately, there are perhaps 7 neighbors near the proposed shooting range strongly protesting ANY shooting range. These seven neighbors have hired an attorney who has a poor understanding of firearms, and spoke of our shotgun range being unsafe because the shotgun shot could travel 2 miles or more.

We have had preliminary hearings and our (hopefully) final hearing is Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 7:00 pm. As we are trying to get as many supporters as possible to show, the hearing is being held in the gymnasium of the Newport High School in Newport, NH right on Route 10 at 245 Main Street. (Directions courtesy Google Maps)

We need all the supporters at the hearing that we can muster. If supporters cannot attend, they can send an email to: Planning Board Administrator Julie Magnusen at topaz@newportnh.net

Thanks in advance for your wonderful support!

Posted 11/13/2012

Get Out And Vote

MINUTE MAN ALERT

ON THURSDAY, NOV. 8 IN CONCORD, OPPOSE RULEMAKING BY THE NH DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY (DoS) THAT WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT YOUR FIREARMS CIVIL RIGHTS.THE DoS HAS BEEN GIVEN POWERS ONLY YOUR LEGISLATORS SHOULD HAVE.

The NH Department of Safety (DoS) has been given rulemaking authority that can adversely affect your Firearms Civil Rights, and they're about to exercise it on non-residents, without legislative oversight. (Please understand that once it is okay to do this to non-residents' firearms civil rights, why isn't it okay for residents?) Make your voice heard on November 8th, at 10:00 A.M. in the Second Floor Conference Room of 33 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH (603-271-2791). You can read these proposed rules here. (See page 9, rule number Saf-C 2100).

Deleting Saf-C 2103.01 and 2103.02 are long overdue, however, restricting the rights of law-abiding sportsmen, women and youth are unnecessary.

Having increased non resident LTC fees 400%, in an attempt to discourage non-residents from having the ability to protect themselves in our state, now they want to take away their right to an administrative hearing, discourage youth who hunt with a handgun, and who knows what else.

So, how does ruling against the interests of non-residents affect YOUR rights? Simply put, the Department of Safety will establish a precedent with a group, non-residents in this case, that typically won't get a lot of sympathy from NH residents. Then, a little ways down the road, they will suggest restrictions on YOUR rights, citing the precedent established by the earlier, non-residents rule.

It's called "Divide and conquor."

How is the Department of Safety able to essentially pass "law" pertaining to firearms rights on their own, without the legislature? It's called Administrative Rulemaking, and it was expanded by the legislature in this past legislative session. GO-NH discussed sending Minuteman Alerts for the hearings on each of these delegations of authority, but there was no consensus that those hearings and bills would directly affect your firearms civil rights. Sadly, the Nov. 8 hearing proves that "uneleced officials" can not be trusted with protecting constitutional rights.

So now, we have to fight each new proposed rule as it is proposed.

WHEN ADMINISTRATORS IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE BODY (like the Department of Safety) MAKE BAD RULES, WE CANNOT OVERTURN THEIR APPOINTMENTS. These unelected bureaucrats are "safe" to make rules that are very unpopular, because their jobs are not jeopardized by the threat of an opposition candidate at election time. Worse yet, OUR elected officials gave these unelected bureaucrats even more power when they passed RSA 541-A:14-a in 2001, thereby creating a loophole, allowing these rules to continue to exist almost indefinitely, rather than expiring as they had in the past. See here.

And their rules have the force of law, as if they were passed by our elected legislators.

This is a trick that legislators use to allow the passage of laws they know will be strongly opposed, without having to cast recorded votes and then take the heat for their positions.

Make your voice heard on November 8th, at 10:00 A.M. in the Second Floor Conference Room of 33 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH, or at least call them at 603-271-2791.

Remember: GO-NH relies on members and donations for funding, postage and paper. GO-NH is 100% volunteer and relies on your generous support. Please consider upgrading your membership at: http://gonh.org/membership_application, or making a donation to:

2012 GO NH Pistol Team

On July 8th 2012 the National Trophy Team Pistol Matches were held at Camp Perry. New Hampshire was represented by 6 veteran pistol shooters. Representing New Hampshire again this year were: Team Captain: Steve Gaykan, Team Coach: Mark Lindley, Gregg Parker, Bill Dutton, Wayne Besaw, John McNally

The weather was as good as one could expect from a July day. Wind was nominal and the temperature was near 90 degrees by the beginning of the match. The team this year had no new shooter to ‘burn’ (this is what we call new shooters at the National Matches). So therefore the team competed in the ‘out of competition’ category. Out of the 10 teams competing in the category, we finished 8th.

Competitor

Slow Fire

Timed Fire

Rapid Fire

Aggregate

GO NH

306-3

340-4

314-5

960-12

Parker, Gregg (96048)

84-1

88-0

82-2

254-3

Dutton, William (9777)

80-0

82-0

84-3

246-3

Besaw, Wayne (19655)

75-1

88-2

76-0

239-3

McNally, John Jr. (30097)

67-1

82-2

72-0

221-3

The team was proud to represent the Gun Owners of New Hampshire and collectively thank GONH for their continued support of the shooting sports in New Hampshire.

The Gun Owners of New Hampshire Smallbore Rifle Teams Bring Pride and Success To The NRA National Matches

The Gun Owners of New Hampshire has long been a strong and vocal supporter of
our Second Amendment Right; a stalwart of defense against those trying to wrench
our rights away. How then does the Gun Owners of NH and the NRA Competitive
Shooting Sports fit like a hand in a glove?

Every year, the Gun Owners of NH awards a few talented young smallbore rifle
competitors (age 20 or less) with funding to compete at Camp Perry in the NRA
National Matches. In the spring of each year, Larry Parker, Sr and the Cheshire
County F&G Club host a tryout. Not just any tryout. But one that hungry
young smallbore shooters train and practice for. They think about the tryout all
year long. To be one of the few to represent the state of New Hampshire and the
Gun Owners of New Hampshire at Camp Perry is a huge honor! Only a small number
of these juniors will represent the Gun Owners of NH. Six to be exact.

You can consider the NRA National Matches at Camp Perry to be the World
Series of the Rifle and Pistol shooting sports. At Camp Perry, the best rise to
the top. The Smallbore Rifle matches at Camp Perry run for two weeks. The first
week are the 3 position matches with the second week being the prone matches.
Each week has its own championship. With each championship culminating with an
awards night at the Camp Perry auditorium that is truly a grand celebration of
achievements and congratulations complete with trophies some nearing a hundred
years of awarding.

This year, three juniors “repeat” as GO-NH State Team
Smallbore Rifle members. Kudos to Brian Jylkka (4th year), Megan Polonsky (3rd
year) and Alex Martin (2nd year) for their return to the GO-NH State Team. First
Timer GO-NH State Team members include Joe Nikiforakis, Lacey Hamelin and Zack
Wambsganss.

After the two days of individual position matches were completed,
Saturday, July 21 was Team Day for the 3 Position Matches. One four man team
represented the Gun Owners of NH. Team Captain Brian Jylkka, Megan Polonsky,
Alex Martin and Joe Nikiforakis get the call. First is the Metallic Sight match
beginning at 8AM with 49 adult and junior teams competing from across the
nation. The GO-NH Team fired a very strong 2316-99X led by Megan Polonsky with
586-30X. The score ended with the GO-NH Team in 5th place overall and just
missing Expert Class Champion by only one point. After a brief equipment
changeover for the Any Sights Match, the GO-NH Team hits the firing line for the
2nd Team match of the day. With an Any Sights team score of 2324-88X the team
waits for results. GO-NH again finishes near the top with 6th place overall and
again 2nd place Expert Class (again missing by only one point for the Class
Championship). While not bringing home trophies in the Position Team Matches,
the Team is very satisfied with their performance.

Without skipping a beat, the Prone National Matches starts the next day. Two
days of individual competition using metallic sights only, a day for Team
matches then two days of any sights competition where rifle scopes are
allowed.

On Team Day one of the high profile, highly anticipated matches of the entire
two weeks is the Whistler Boy junior two-man team match. For the Whistler Boy
match The Gun Owners of New Hampshire are fielding three two-man teams. The
GO-NH Gold Team is represented with the return of Brian Jylkka and Alex Martin
who also fired as the Gold Team in 2011. The GO-NH Silver Team includes Megan
Polonsky and Joe Nikiforakis. The GO-NH Bronze Team consists of Lacey Hamelin
and Zach Wambsganss. The match is a five target, 100 shot course of fire with
three targets in prone, one in standing and one in kneeling. 44 Teams fired the
match with all three GO-NH Teams finishing proud! Gold Team members Brian and
Alex were called to the stage earning 2nd place overall honors were presented
with Silver Medals. The GO-NH Gold Team finished in 1st place for State
Association teams. Also earning Top 10 awards were the GO-NH Silver Team Megan
and Joe who finished in 10th place overall. Lacey and Zach are both young first
time State Whistler Boy Team members and finished in the top half of the field
at 22nd place.

The Gun Owners of New Hampshire for the Prone Team matches are represented by
Brian Jylkka (Captain), Megan Polonsky, Alex Martin and with Lacey Hamelin who
earned a spot on the state team with outstanding performances in the tryout
match and in NRA Prone Regionals she fired in earlier in the summer. Two Prone
Team matches are fired, one with metallic sights and the other any sights. The
Gun Owners of NH Juniors finished in the Prone Metallic Sight Team awards with a
score of 1580-82X. The Prone Any Sight Team match ended with the GO-NH Juniors
atop the Expert Class State Association Category with a score of 1584-97X, again
in the awards list.

Aside from the previously mentioned Team awards earned, individual awards
were also earned for outstanding marksmanship during the Smallbore National
Matches. Brian Jylkka was third highest Collegiate competitor during Position
Week firing 2257-87X and was called onto the stage to accept his award. Jarred
Dassler also earned a spot on stage as third highest Sub-Junior during Position
Week with a score of 2103-29X.

Easily said… the Junior Smallbore competitors from New Hampshire continue to
earn the awards and recognition rivaling any other state at the NRA National
Matches!

Keith Jylkka

Posted 10/11/2012

Cheshire County and Hudson Fish & Game Clubs’ Junior Shooters represent the State of New Hampshire at the 2012 National Smallbore Matches at Camp Perry

Besides the 3 Gun Owners of New Hampshire Smallbore
Whistler Boy Teams that attended the 2012 National Rifle Matches at Camp Perry
Ohio this past July, there were 10 other junior shooters representing the State
of NH. Coach Keith Jylkka covers that GO-NH Teams in his separate report. Of the
44 Teams entered in the Smallbore Whistler Boy Match, 8 of these are New
Hampshire Teams. Almost 20%! Three additional Teams from the Cheshire County
Fish & Game Club and another 2 Teams from Hudson. Over the past 5 years, New
Hampshire has been a strong presence at the National Matches with as many as 25%
of the Whistler Boy Match participants being from NH.

Besides the GO-NH Teams
finishing 2nd, 10th and 22nd overall, Ferry Brook Juniors Gold from Cheshire
County finished 19th. Team members were Andrew Solomonides and Russell LaPlume.
The Cheshire County F&G Team of Albert Miller and Nina Margand finished
30th. The Hudson junior Rifle Team Blue Team of Jarred Dassler and Bailey Anne
Urbach finished 33rd with the Hudson JRT White Team of Elizabeth Dutton and
Liana Squeglia hot on their heels finishing 35th. Right tight behind them was
the Ferry Brook Silver Team from Cheshire County of Adam Levesque and Grace
Hackler finishing 37th. 2013 is shaping up to be another year with strong
representation at the National Matches as Cheshire County Fish & Game and
Shooting Sports Education Foundation plan to increase the number of juniors it
will sponsor from 9 to 12. The support of Gun Owners of New Hampshire, the NRA
Foundation, Cheshire County Shooting Sports Education Foundation, Hudson Fish
& Game and all other contributors is greatly appreciated.

Larry Parker,
Sr

Posted 10/11/2012

Londonderry Town Meeting

On Thursday, October 4, 2012 at 4:30pm the Londonderry Town Council in conjunction with the Londonderry Police Department, and with the cooperation of local business owner Thomas Kimball, will be conducting a special Town Council Meeting on the premises of the Londonderry Country Club on Kimball Road in Londonderry.

All firearm owners should attend this hearing...as if they can mess with one firing range for no legal reasons...they can mess with your firing range. Stop this nonsense in its tracks. Attend this meeting EVEN IF YOU DO NOT LIVE IN Londonderry.

Good Work!

"Concord lawyer Penny Dean acted quickly to research and address the Auburn selectmen's policy of publicly posting the names of concealed carry licensees. The names had been listed in the board's approved minutes and created a violation of RSA 159, inadvertently creating a list of the locations of privately owned firearms - thereby creating a shopping list for criminals."

Ryan has been very active shooting; helping with clinics, helping run matches
and range maintenance on the Leveridge Range for four or five years now. He and
his wife recently had a 2nd child and bought a new house.

With a toddler and a new born in the family, a new house to move in to, a
full time job AND training to run in a marathon Ryan hasn’t had as much time as
usual for shooting Highpower Matches this year. He is now very glad that he put
aside a morning to come shoot in the NH Highpower Rifle League at NFGA on this
day.

The NH Highpower Rifle league matches at NFGA are; 10 shots 200 yard Offhand,
2 Strings of 200 Sitting Rapid and 2 Strings of 300 Prone Rapid. Ryan started
off the day with a 94 offhand. He then shot a 99-3X on his 1st Sitting Rapid
string. Coaching is allowed in these league matches and I watched the trace on
his 2nd string. The 1st 2 shots were Snake Eyes X’s. I then watched the
remaining 8 shots go like lazers into the X-Ring. As he was taking off his sling
he was shaking his head a little bit and had that look we all know on his face.
I asked him how the string felt and he said it felt good but he probably had one
out the left and one out the right. I told him it looked thru my scope like he
just shot a 10X Clean. Sure enough when the target came up it was!

Ryan also earned his final points to Leg out in July of this year and is now
the proud owner of Badge # 2100. I was very happy to have been present for both
of these feats Ryan accomplished this year.

2012 Primary Voter's Guide, 2nd Edition

The 2012 Primary Voter's Guide, 3rd Edition is attached below.Download it and pass it along to your friends and relatives.

The following errors were reported in the Guide 1st Edition:

Senator Bragdon (R) from Senate District 11 was erroneously given a grade of "D". This is incorrect -- Senator Bragdon's grade should be "B".Candidate Miroslaw Dziedzic (R) (Representative in Congress) was erroneously given a grade of "RS". This is incorrect -- Miroslaw Dziedzic's grade should be "B?".Candidate Rick Parent (R) (Representative in Congress) was erroneously given a grade of "RS". This is incorrect -- Rick Parentgrade should be "B?".Candidate Devon Claire Boyd (R) (Strafford 4) was erroneously given a grade of "B-?". This is incorrect -- Devon Claire Boyd's grade should be "B*?".Candidate Steven Stefanik (I) (Hillsborough 16) was mistakenly omitted as a candidate for office, but he has been added to the revised Guide, and his grade is "B?".

The GONH Grading team offers their sincerest apologies for these errors.Don't forget to vote on Tuesday, September 11th, 2012.

Freedom Fest 2012

Saturday, September 8, 2012 9:00 AM – 3:00PM Pelham Fish & Game Club
100 Simpson Mill Road, Pelham, NH Come Celebrate
Freedom With Us!A day for GO-NH members, family and friends, to
get together for some good old American shooting! Come on out – bring the kids,
lots of activities for everyone!

Events & Activities for
Everyone:

Cowboy Shooting & Single Action Shooting

Reenactment Demonstrations

Full Auto & Big Bore Shooting

“Appleseed” Program shooting for kids & first time shooters

IDPA, Silhouette, Informal plinking – open range!

Also...

Door Prize, Raffles, & Silent Auction

GO-NH merchandise

Committee Volunteer sign-up (help strengthen GO-NH)

Information & Education resources

Food & beverage provided by the local Boy Scouts of America, Troop 610

Police Kill a Man Who Brought a Gun to the Door at 1:30 a.m.

Back by popular demand...

Jones vs. Secord

This case arises out of the tragic death of Gary Jones, who was shot and killed by a man wielding a stolen handgun. Mr. Jones’ executrix claimed that the gun owner's negligent storage of the weapon and Mr. Secord’s failure timely to report its theft proximately caused Mr. Jones’ death [you must be kidding!]. The district court rejected these claims and granted summary judgment in favor of the firearm owner. Jones v. Secord, No. 10–146, 2011 WL 1557883 (D.N.H. Apr. 26, 2011). The plaintiff appeals. We affirm. The Court found that Mr. Secord did nothing wrong.

I. BACKGROUND-For the last thirty years, the defendant, Lawrence Secord, has owned a hunting camp in Wentworth Location, New Hampshire. The camp is used as a base for hunting and fishing, and the defendant has routinely made it available to family members.

The camp includes a cabin that is thirty-eight feet long by sixteen feet wide. The cabin is normally locked when unoccupied—but a key is hidden on the property and family members know of its whereabouts. Mr. Secord kept a revolver hidden under the base of a water-heater platform inside the cabin and the ammunition for the handgun was stored in plain sight.

Until he was seventeen years old, the defendant, Mr. Secord's grandson, Michael Woodbury, was among the family members who regularly visited the camp. He would go there to hunt and fish with his grandfather and his father. These visits ceased abruptly around June of 1994, when Michael Woodbury offended his grandfather Mr. Secord by cancelling a planned fishing trip. From that time forward, Woodbury was not welcome at the camp.

Soon that, Michael Woodbury committed a series of felonies (including bank robbery and breaking and entering) that resulted in his incarceration. By May of 2007, he was out of prison and had been helping his father build a house in Sebago, Maine. At that point, he had not spoken to his grandfather, Mr. Secord for approximately ten years. Nonetheless grandson Michael Woodbury showed up that month unannounced at his grandfather’s home in Scarborough, Maine. Grandfather received him coldly, and Woodbury departed minutes after his arrival. That was the last that the grandfather saw Woodbury until after the Michael Woodbury broke into his cabin in Wentworth, stole his hidden revolver, and used that firearm to attempt to rob a business on July 2, 2007 whereby Mr. Jones, the plaintiff's son was murdered. It was not until AFTER July 2, 2007 that Mr. Secord, the grandfather of the murder learned that his cabin had been broken into and the revolver stolen. The complaint in this case was that Mr. Secord was “negligent in failing both adequately to secure the revolver and promptly to report its theft.” The court concluded that no liability attached for a failure to secure the revolver because no legally cognizable duty was owed; under New Hampshire law, “individuals ordinarily are not subjected to liability for the criminal acts of third parties.”

B. Substantive Arguments.-Under New Hampshire law, a successful negligence claim requires a showing of duty, breach, proximate cause, and injury. See Vachon v. New England Towing, Inc., 809 A.2d 771, 774 (N.H. 2002). New Hampshire adheres to the general rule that “a private citizen has no [ ] duty to protect others from the criminal attacks of third parties.” Dupont v. Aavid Thermal Techs., Inc., 798 A .2d 587, 590 (N.H. 2002); accord Ahrendt v. Granite Bank, 740 A.2d 1058, 1063 (N.H. 1999); Walls, 633 A.2d at 104. “This rule is grounded in the fundamental unfairness of holding private citizens responsible for the unanticipated criminal acts of third parties, because under all ordinary and normal circumstances, in the absence of any reason to expect the contrary, the actor may reasonably proceed upon the assumption that others will obey the law.” Remsburg v. Docusearch, Inc., 816 A.2d 1001, 1006 (N.H. 2003)

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has identified three narrow exceptions to the general rule that citizens have no duty at common law to protect others from criminal acts of third parties. See, e .g., Berry v. Watchtower Bible & Tract Soc'y. of N.Y., Inc., 879 A.2d 1124, 1128 (N.H. 2005); Remsburg, 816 A.2d at 1007; Dupont, 798 A.2d at 590. These exceptions apply to situations in which “(1) a special relationship exists; (2) special circumstances exist; or (3) the duty has been voluntarily assumed.”3 Remsburg, 816 A.2d at 1007.

1. Failure to Report. The plaintiff contends that the defendant could have prevented the murder by seasonably reporting the theft of his handgun. The defendant counters that he did not know about the theft until after the murder occurred.

2. Failure to Secure. The plaintiff's second substantive argument is that the defendant's failure properly to secure the handgun created an unreasonable risk of criminal misconduct because of Woodbury's presence in the neighborhood of the camp. While conceding that New Hampshire has not yet found a common-law duty of care in the context of a homeowner's storage of firearms,5 she nonetheless contends that such a duty exists. The court noted that New Hampshire has imposed statutory restrictions on the storage of firearms around children (up to age 16). See N.H.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 650–C:1, however, the firearm in this case was stolen and the Court did not buy the arguments that Mr. Secord should be responsible for the acts of a criminal. The Court opinion was by SELYA, Circuit Judge.

Please note that cases like this are very important, and if you see or hear of such a case, please call the GO-PHONE at 603-225-4664 to make sure GONH knows about the case as well. We can’t act if we don’t know.

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

ANTI-FIREARMS LAWYER JAMES BASSETT NOMINATED FOR N.H. SUPREME COURT BY GOV.
LYNCHPLEASE CALL AND EMAIL YOUR EXECUTIVE COUNCILLOR AND LET HIM KNOW YOU
DON'T WANT ANY MORE GUN GRABBERS ON THE N.H. SUPREME COURT

Call and email your Executive Councilor and tell him to oppose James Basset
for the NH Supreme Court. Mr. Bassett is 55 years old, which means that, at a
minimum, Mr. Bassett will have 15 years to sit as one of five (the other four
Justices are all Democratic appointees, and have eroded our firearm rights in
many instances). The Executive Council will be voting on Basset's nomination on
Wednesday the 23rd of May. The New Hampshire Supreme Court is presently stacked
with four Less-Than-Firearms-Friendly judges, and we don't need another firearms
opponent to top it off.

James P. Bassett ran as a Moderate Republican for the U.S. House of
Representatives in 1994 to oppose Democrat Dick Swett (whose defeat was lauded
as an example of what GO-NH could do). Bassett was upstaged by Charles Bass who
won the Republican Primary. In 1994, Bassett was in favor of the Brady Bill and
when recently asked about whether or not he is still in favor of the Brady Bill
by Executive Councilor David Wheeler, his response was simply “I haven’t thought
about the Brady Bill since 1994.” A non answer at best, and a typical political
doublespeak way of avoiding the question.

MINUTEMAN ALERT - ACTION NEEDED

The House has been trying desperately to get HB 536 Constitutional Carry through the Senate as passed by the House in January without Senate amendments. The House is now trying to attach the original HB 536 as passed in January to a senate bill in the New Hampshire House. If you want Constitutional Carry to pass, call your State Rep NOW –TODAY! If you have time, call any other Rep that you can get ahold of as well , and tell them to please vote for the ORIGINAL HB 536 AS PASSED BY THE HOUSE in January AS ADDED ON TO a SENATE BILL. We KNOW THIS IS CONFUSING- but the Senate has not been cooperating with firearm owners and this is our last chance to have Constitution Carry in New Hampshire this session.

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

IMPORTANT FIREARMS RELATED BILLS HEADING FOR THE SENATE WEDNESDAY, 16-MAY-2012PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL YOUR SENATOR AND URGE SUPPORT OF HB1551, HB1332, AND HB1246

Please contact your state senator and ask him or her to support HB1551, HB1332, and HB1246.

These bills will be voted on in the Senate, Wednesday, 16-May-2012, starting at 10:00 A.M. (approx. time -- May occur later in the day Your presence makes a difference!

You may bring video cameras, including cell phone cameras (but RINGERS OFF, PLEASE!) and record the vote to show to your friends and other interested parties how firearms issues are being addressed (or ignored) by the NH Senate.

HB1551: This bill is designed to protect land owners from frivolous suits. It could be stronger, but is better than no protection at all.

HB1332: This bill increases the standard for searches by Fish and Game from reasonable cause, to probable cause, and provides other positive changes, including a prohibition from assessing storage fees against citizens who have simply been ACCUSED of F&G violations.

HB1246: This bill adds two other offices that can issue licenses to carry concealed firearms. If you don’t trust your anti-firearms Chief of Police (or Selectmen) to issue an LTC, your pro-rights, elected Sheriff or the Director of State Police can do so, as an alternative.

If you are able to attend these hearings, please do so. Your presence makes a much greater impact on legislators, when you take the time from your busy day to attend in person and make your voice HEARD! You are encouraged to bring video cameras, including cell phone cameras, to help your legislators to understand that these issues are IMPORTANT to you, and that their positions on these bills will not go unnoticed and will be considered at re-election time!

Senate Phone numbers: The best way to express your opinion on a bill (other than showing up at its public hearing) is to CALL YOUR SENATOR.

District 01 John Gallus (r)(603)271-3076

District 02Jeanie Forrester (r)(603)271-4151

District 03Jeb Bradley (r)(603)271-8472

District 04James Forsythe (r)(603)271-3067

District 05Matthew Houde (d)(603)271-8631

District 06Fenton Groen (r)(603)271-2609

District 07Andy Sanborn (r)(603)271-3067

District 08Bob Odell (r)(603)271-4063

District 09Raymond White (r)(603)271-2609

District 10Molly Kelly (d)(603)271-3207

District 11Peter Bragdon (r)(603)271-2111

District 12Jim Luther (r)(603)271-4151

District 13Gary Lambert (r)(603)271-2609

District 14Sharon Carson (r)(603)271-1403

District 15Sylvia Larsen (d)(603)271-3207

District 16David Boutin (r)(603)271-3092

District 17John Barnes, Jr. (r)(603)271-4063

District 18Tom De Blois (r)(603)271-4151

District 19Jim Rausch (r)(603)271-3091

District 20Lou D'Allesandro (d)(603)271-2117

District 21Amanda Merrill (d)(603)271-3207

District 22Chuck Morse (r)(603)271-4980

District 23Russell Prescott (r)(603)271-4063

District 24Nancy Stiles (r)(603)271-3093

Posted 05/16/2012

Recent killings in NH renew debate about gun laws

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

SENATE PLANNING TO SUBSTITUTE HORRIBLE AMENDMENT FOR ORIGINAL CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY AKA HB 536.THEY THINK YOU AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION!!PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL YOUR SENATOR AND URGE HIM/HER TO SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL HB536 AND REJECT THE FORSYTHE SUBSTITUTE.Please tell your senator that you expect Roll Call votes on these votes, lest you will assume they are lying to you.

What's going on with HB536?

Just this: The Senate thinks you’re stupid. They've been playing games with the legislation and its hearings, dragging things out, hoping you'll just give up and go back to the other important stuff in your life. Now they have chosen a Senator (Forsythe) who is reportedly not sitting for reelection, to offer a horrible amendment (Amendment 2012-1891s) to HB 536-which will ultimately be offered by Senator Groen as a “committee amendment” on the Senate Floor. The “amendment” being offered replaces the entire current bill with the entire “amendment”, which will take away your rights!

Senators and Reps courted us for our votes during the election, and not only forgot us after the election, but (the Senate has) ignored repeated requests from constituents and GO-NH to vote on GOOD firearms bills PASSED by the House. Now they want to tell you this amendment is good for firearm owners. Balderdash. It is a bad piece of legislation meant as a sop to the Governor, and reflects a level of cowardice you would expect from the Mass. or California legislatures, but not senators from the John Stark state!

GO-NH says SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL HB 536. HB536 as introduced in the Senate, simply makes a License To Carry optional (for lawful concealed carry), clarifies that a License To Carry expires on the fifth anniversary of the holder's DOB (currently it expires on the fourth year), prohibits the police from asking any more information on a LTC application (Pistol/Revolver License to Carry) than is currently allowed by law, and makes it clear that anyone who is not prohibited by statute from possessing a firearm in New Hampshire may carry or transport loaded firearms.

The bill also makes it explicitly legal for law abiding individuals not engaged in the business of selling pistols or revolvers, to sell a firearm to a person who is personally known to him or her. It has no extra stuff. It has no wishy-washy, flowery rhetoric meant to baffle you while surrendering your rights to federal bureaucrats and Obama dictates. It does not give away the best of the “original” HB536 and replace it with an Obama-style laundry list of restrictions, while offering essentially nothing positive for firearms owners. HB536 as introduced in the senate does not simply rebrand federal restrictions as a "firearms friendly" bill, like this proposed piece of junk amendment. The original HB536 would not make Eric Holder, Barack Obama, or the drunken ghost of Teddy Kennedy happy. And that's why we want the original HB536 as introduced in the Senate, and not the sleight of hand, substitute the NH Senate is trying to sell us.

Full Senate phone numbers: The best way to express your opinion on a bill (other than showing up at its public hearing) is to CALL YOUR SENATOR. Be polite but firm, and don't let your elected EMPLOYEES push you around!

As a member of the House and as one of your constituents, I implore you to vote Ought To Pass (OTP) on HB536 as well as guarantee that there is a recorded roll call vote on the floor for this bill by asking for it yourself.

This email is being BCC'd to a number of those that are constituents in our district as well as a number of other gun owners in the State.

We both know that our party platform is clear regarding the support for the the 2nd amendment. We both know that Vermont has had this legislation (Constitutional Carry) in place and there are no issues with concealed carry without a license. We both know that the Brady campaign has recently listed NH as the 27th "best state" in terms of gun control, which means that 23 states have less restrictive gun laws than NH. It is time to change that! We both know that this bill is being brought up at this time to use the death of the Greenland chief as a means to cover the anti-gun view in the senate. (how cowardly and disrespectful to the chief and his family) We both know that punishing the law abiding gun owners for the death of police chief when the criminal would have been prohibited from owning a firearm by both state and federal law is unacceptable. We both know that the 19-5 Senate majority is historic and those that voted for us expect to see the pro-2nd amendment legislation passed We both know that this is a opportunity that should not be squandered. We both know this bill could have been passed earlier this year, but was not and now the deadline is tomorrow. We both know that the police have no obligation to protect the citizens (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_v._District_of_Columbia), Lastly, we both know that the Rights outlined in our state and federal constitutions speak nothing about getting government permission to protect yourself.

Last year Constitutional Carry died and the blame was assigned to you. Do not let that happen again.

This time please make sure there is clear evidence that you supported the law abiding gun owners in this state and make sure HB536 passes. We, the gun owners in our towns, are looking to you to take the lead to make sure HB536 passes, and we will not forget if we are let down again.

Regards,

Rep. HoellCitizen, DunbartonState Rep. Bow/Dunbarton

PS. I will ask that this letter be displayed at some of the some of the gun shops and ranges in this area.PSS. This is a open letter and permission is granted to redistribute, provided the letter is in its entirety

Posted 04/26/2012

Minuteman Alert - Hearings on Thursday

Make sure to tell all Senators you call that you expect roll call votes on all these bills!

SUPPORT HB 1555This bill removes the penalty for carrying a loaded firearm for self defense in a state game refuge. (Hearing: Thursday, 26-Apr-2012 @ 10:00 A.M. LOB Rm 102, SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES) Please also call the members of the committee and ask them to support this important bill.

SUPPORT HB 1341Repeals 644:13, the so called Compact Zone Anti-Firearms law. 644:13 is poorly written law, unevenly enforced, and can lead to felony charges for use of firearms. HEARING on Thursday April 26, 2012 LOB 101 1:50 pm before Senate Judiciary Committee

HB 1246This bill adds two other offices that can issue licenses to carry concealed firearms. If you don't trust your anti-firearms Chief of Police (or Selectmen) to issue an LTC, if this bill passes, your pro-rights, elected Sheriff or the Director of State Police can do so, as an alternative.HEARING on Thursday April 26, 2012 LOB 101 2:10 pm before Senate Judiciary Committee

Note: This is an Executive Session: You will not be permitted to speak unless called upon by a senator. However, you may bring video cameras, including cell phone cameras (but RINGERS OFF, PLEASE!) and record the executive session, to show to your friends and other interested parties how firearms owners are being treated by the NH Senate.

HB536: As currently amended, simply makes a License To Carry optional (for lawful concealed carry), clarifies that a License To Carry expires on the fifth anniversary of holders’ DOB (currently it expires on the fourth year), prohibits the police from asking any more information on a LTC application (Pistol/Revolver License to Carry) than is currently allowed by law, and makes it clear that anyone who is not prohibited by statute from possessing a firearm in New Hampshire may carry or transport loaded firearms. The bill also makes it explicitly legal for law abiding individuals not engaged in the business of selling pistols or revolvers, to sell a firearm to a person who is personally known to him or her.. (Hearing: Wednesday, 25-Apr-2012 @ 1: 00 P.M. LOB Rm 101, SENATE JUDICIARY ) Please also call the members of the committee and ask them to support this important bill.

GO-NH supports this bill:

HB1535: Making arrest records subject to right to know law, which is good for the common man, in many cases those arrested for self defense are arrested on flimsiest of evidence. In order for the public to respond (remember how effective public outrage was when the Farmington man safety discharged his firearm into the ground to prevent a burglar from escaping until police arrived—ONLY TO HAVE THE POLICE ARREST THE HOMEOWNER as well as the burglar!). HB 1535 will hold officials accountable forcing the officials to release information pertaining to the arrest before someone’s life is destroyed. Up until now the person being charged had been denied this information by officials as “part of an ongoing investigation”. (Hearing: W ednesday, 25-Apr-2012 @ 1:00 P.M. LOB Rm 101, SENATE JUDICIARY ) Please also call the members of the committee and ask them to support this important bill.

GO-NH opposes this bill:

HB1168 :Pertaining to annulled records…. annulment currently removes state and some federal law restrictions *(i.e. disabilities) relating to a conviction. For years in the state of NH persons who made stupid mistakes in their youth (or was the one who got caught ) for youthful indiscretions could have those indiscretions annulled thus allowing them to go on to be productive model citizens. Many persons may have plead guilty rather than mount an expensive defense (that they could not afford) knowing the conviction could be ANNULLED later if they maintained good behavior following the conviction for a certain number of years. This bill is akin to Pasting a Big "A" as in The Scarlet Letter on otherwise law abiding citizens. We question how in these tight budget times h ow is it we suddenly have the manpower and extra money to waste on this bill unless there is some political motivation behind it? Please kill this bill.

(c) The court records relating to an annulled arrest, conviction, or sentence shall remain public documents. However, the court shall clearly indicate on the file and in the electronic record that the arrest or conviction and sentence have been annulled.

(d) The state police criminal records unit shall add an entry to the subject’s record of arrest, conviction, or sentence in the criminal history database stating that the record has been annulled.

(e) The arresting agency and the prosecuting agency shall clearly indicate in their respective file and in their respective electronic record that the record of arrest or conviction and sentence have been annulled. (Hearing: Wednesday, 25-Apr-2012 @ 1:00 P.M. LOB Rm 101, SENATE JUDICIARY ) Please also call the members of the committee and ask them to oppose this poorly written and poorly conceived bill.

If you are able to attend this hearing for these bills, please do so. Your presence makes a much greater impact on legislators, when you take the time from your busy day to attend in person and make your voice HEARD! You are encouraged to bring video cameras, including cell phone cameras, to help your legislators to understand that these issues are IMPORTANT to you, and that their positions on these bills will not go unnoticed and will be considered at re-election time!

Senate Phone numbers: The best way to express your opinion on a bill (other than showing up at its public hearing) is to CALL YOUR SENATOR.

District 01 John Gallus (r)(603)271-3076

District 02Jeanie Forrester (r)(603)271-4151

District 03Jeb Bradley (r)(603)271-8472

District 04James Forsythe (r)(603)271-3067

District 05Matthew Houde (d)(603)271-8631

District 06Fenton Groen (r)(603)271-2609

District 07Andy Sanborn (r)(603)271-3067

District 08Bob Odell (r)(603)271-4063

District 09Raymond White (r)(603)271-2609

District 10Molly Kelly (d)(603)271-3207

District 11Peter Bragdon (r)(603)271-2111

District 12Jim Luther (r)(603)271-4151

District 13Gary Lambert (r)(603)271-2609

District 14Sharon Carson (r)(603)271-1403

District 15Sylvia Larsen (d)(603)271-3207

District 16David Boutin (r)(603)271-3092

District 17John Barnes, Jr. (r)(603)271-4063

District 18Tom De Blois (r)(603)271-4151

District 19Jim Rausch (r)(603)271-3091

District 20Lou D'Allesandro (d)(603)271-2117

District 21Amanda Merrill (d)(603)271-3207

District 22Chuck Morse (r)(603)271-4980

District 23Russell Prescott (r)(603)271-4063

District 24Nancy Stiles (r)(603)271-3093

Please act today to protect and further your 2nd Amendment rights!

Posted 04/23/2012

Minuteman Alert

Senate floor votes expected Wednesday morning, April 11, 2012. Call or e-email your Senator TODAY as the vote is expected tomorrow, and attend the Thursday hearing if you are able.MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.

Ask your Senator to SUPPORT HB 1244This is a bill to return citizens the right to carry a self defense firearm while trapping. Who’s my Senator?

OPPOSE HB 1168Pertaining to annulled records…. annulment currently removes state and some federal law restrictions *(i.e. disabilities) relating to a conviction. For years in the state of NH persons who made stupid mistakes in their youth (or was the one who got caught ) for youthful indiscretions could have those indiscretions annulled thus allowing them to go on to be productive model citizens. Many persons may have plead guilty rather than mount an expensive defense (that they could not afford) knowing the conviction could be ANNULLED later if they maintained good behavior following the conviction for a certain number of years. This bill is akin to Pasting a Big "A" as in The Scarlet Letter on otherwise law abiding citizens. We question how in these tight budget times how is it we suddenly have the manpower and extra money to waste on this bill unless there is some political motivation behind it? Please kill this bill.(c) The court records relating to an annulled arrest, conviction, or sentence shall remain public documents. However, the court shall clearly indicate on the file and in the electronic record that the arrest or conviction and sentence have been annulled.(d) The state police criminal records unit shall add an entry to the subject’s record of arrest, conviction, or sentence in the criminal history database stating that the record has been annulled. (e) The arresting agency and the prosecuting agency shall clearly indicate in their respective file and in their respective electronic record that the record of arrest or conviction and sentence have been annulled. Who’s my Senator?

OPPOSE HB 1532 If this bill passes it will prevent a homeowner from exercising their 4th Amendment rights to demand law enforcement officers leave the homeowner’s property when law enforcement is there without the landowner’s permission (which is the current law). The bill if passed allows law enforcement to remain on your property without a warrant or other current legal requirement-this law will now allow a police officer to make those decisions regarding remaining on your property over your objection rather than a judge making the decision- in violation of your 4th Amendment rights! Who’s my Senator?

Posted 04/10/2012

Minuteman Alert

Senate HEARINGS-please attend if you can Thursday, April 12, 2012

SUPPORT HB 1535Making arrest records subject to right to know law, which is good for the common man, in many cases those arrested for self defense are arrested on flimsiest of evidence. In order for the public to respond (remember how effective public outrage was when the Farmington man safety discharged his firearm into the ground to prevent a burglar from escaping until police arrived—ONLY TO HAVE THE POLICE ARREST THE HOMEOWNER as well as the burglar!). HB 1535 will hold officials accountable forcing the officials to release information pertaining to the arrest before someone’s life is destroyed. Up until now the person being charged had been denied this information by officials as “part of an ongoing investigation”. Hearing scheduled for Room 101 LOB 1:30 pm

Posted 04/10/2012

Update on HB 1542

A bill to provide redress via injunction, civil actions or other remedies for violations of our constitutional rights

I. A citizen may seek injunctive relief or maintain a civil action, or both, to recover damages for intentional violations of the state constitution’s bill of rights by any governmental entity and its agents in the superior court by bench or by jury trial.

II. If the citizen prevails, in addition to damages, the court shall award the cost of the action and such attorney’s fees as it finds to be reasonable.

2 New Section; Violations of Constitutional Rights. Amend RSA 541-B by inserting after section 9-a the following new section:

541-B:19-a Violations of Constitutional Rights.

I. A citizen may seek injunctive relief or maintain a civil action, or both, to recover damages for intentional violations of the state constitution’s bill of rights by any governmental entity and its agents in the superior court by bench or by jury trial.

II. If the citizen prevails, in addition to damages, the court shall award the cost of the action and such attorney’s fees as it finds to be reasonable.

GO-NH understands and empathizes with New Hampshire business owners. The NH House and Senate are aware of this problem, and now it appears that the House Republican Alliance and Representative Dan McGuire (603)782-4918, and perhaps the Senate, simply want wash their hands of this issue and want to push off our problems to big brother, the federal government (think IRS and Post Office). Let’s remember the State House and State Senate have the power of the purse and law over the New Hampshire State Police, yet they have not forced the NHSP to properly manage the Gun Line, thus infringing on peoples’ ability to exercise their Constitutional Rights and promote business in the tax-free state of New Hampshire. The legislators’ solution is to give this New Hampshire problem to big brother. Think Obamacare! When money and manpower is taken from NICS and given to Obamacare what will happen to our legal firearm supply if NICS was only manned on Monday through Friday from 9-5? What would that do to New Hampshire business? We need to solve this problem on the local level, in the New Hampshire House and Senate, where it belongs. KILL THIS BILL! Get the New Hampshire legislature to force the State Police to do their job! The fact is, if the Gun Line was answered in a timely fashion, there would not be a problem. If the Gun Line was a private business they would be out of business. We don’t need big brother’s help!

Here’s a QUOTE FROM A MEMBER regarding getting information from the Feds:

"I waited a week and never hear back to I called again and asked for the supervisor by name and told her who I was and that I was waiting for her call back. She still had no answer and i honestly don't think she put much effort into it but was kind enough to provide me with a number to call at the Federal level to request a special number to put on my 4473 form for the next time and that was supposed to prevent a delay. I am not sure what the Feds number has to do with a State check but I asked the em to send me the necessary paperwork to fill out for the number. You are correct they wanted me to get finger printed and turn over birth records of my oldest born ect LOL. I did not hesitate to rip the forms up and toss them up."

Ironically this member supported this bill, but when it came time for HIM to fill out "the papers" he tore them up!

If the FFL’s in the state are complaining, if the state house and senate is not pushing the state police to do their job and man the Gun Line, just imagine what will happen when the federal government has complete control of the NH gun supply. What happens when the fed says they are going to close early and not working nights and weekends. You are giving away your local control to the federal government, to a federal bureaucracy. Look how efficient the Postal Service the IRS or any other alphabet agency you can think of is.

Please contact your state representative and ask them to kill HB 1220. Don’t be fooled by those who would use GO-NH’s name ("a GO-NH member suggested this") to fool people into believing that GO-NH supports this bill or the amendment(s) to this bill. GO-NH does NOT! KILL THE BILL! (We have thousands of members, not just one)

Who is my Representative?Have you heard from those who claim to be "pro-gun" that this is a GOOD bill for firearm owners? Well, if the problem is the NHSP Gun Line, then you must know what that "pro-gun" group omitted telling you:

Did you know Representative Dan McGuire (603)782-4918 removed HB 1220 from the Consent Calendar where it would have likely been killed (the Committee voted 15-2 to ITL it), to the floor and plans to engage in a "floor fight" to give away your state’s rights to the federal government, and worse yet, the HRA (House Republican Alliance) appears to be supporting this effort?

Did you know the assistant commissioner of the Dept. of Safety, the very entity in charge of the NHSP Gun Line is an advisor to this "pro-gun" group and he is currently empowered to staff the Gun Line appropriately but has not addressed the issue. ?!?!?!?

Did you know the Majority leader in the New Hampshire House is a member of this "pro-gun" group?

Did you know HB 1220 and the proposed amendment will require that any citizen denied their 2nd Amendment right beg and hope the federal bureaucracy even tells them why they were denied, despite a federal law that says they must do so within five days-see below?

Did you know how much money will be saved on the NH Gun Line, if these positions are just reallocated? ZERO!

Maybe it is time to ask why is this “pro-gun” group interested in handing over our State’s rights to the federal government. Representative Dan McGuire (603)782-4918 the sole sponsor of this horrendous piece of legislation now offers a worse amendment to a bad bill. We are not interested in any amendment that passes responsibility from the New Hampshire Gun Line to the Federal Government. Think of the Post Office, IRS and Obamacare.

This is actually going to cost the state more money if this bill passes. HOW can the NHSP do this when the NHSP will no longer have access to the NICS database, nor see the actual search ran? This is a feel good piece of legislation with no practical way to implement, no consequences to the NHSP for not doing so, no time frame for doing so, and no authority to make the FEDS change their mind. Note that Section 2 to 9 mentions how protective orders will be transmitted. What about a protective order that is dismissed or unfounded? How will that information be transmitted and when? Don’t know? Niether do I, there is no provision for it in the amendment.

We have been given some information that there may be another amendment offered by the bill’s sponsor, Rep Dan McGuire (603)782-4918. We believe the other potential unacceptable amendment will provide:

According to an email by Dan McGuire,

"There would be a one-time charge [hmm, doesn’t that cost money??] for DOIT to write the software, and continuing support [and doesn’t that cost money either right?] and hopefully not much expense after that. Here is what might be needed:

- A local database that DOS can use to keep track of the 200 or so individuals under court order, but not in NICS.

- A password-protected web site accessible to federally licensed firearms dealers in NH.

- A form on the site where they can enter basic information about a customer who wants to buy a gun.

- An automatic check of the FBI's NICS database given the information on the form.

- An automatic check of our local database against the same information.

- A response page the gun dealer will see telling them whether the sale was approved or denied."

The NH State Police Gun Line serves as a partial firewall against the absolute obstruction you would experience at every step by going to the Feds first. Letting HB1220 pass will dismantle this firewall and leave you completely at the mercy of the anti-firearms federal agencies for even beginning the appeals process. So, the answer is clear:

Stop the passage of HB1220 or New Hampshire citizens will be forced to deal exclusively with the Feds. Just look at the infants on the “no fly” list!

Some points to consider:

1) Does GO-NH want the state of NH to enforce the Federal Brady Law?A: Of course not.

2) Does HB1220 end state funding of the 1993 Brady Bill?A: Not really. Funding for the Brady Bill comes directly from the federal budget for both the FBI and BATF.

3) Does the NH State Gun Line simply regurgitate the response of the Federal NICS line?A: No. The NH State Gun Line also performs checks against state databases to determine whether the person is prohibited from the purchase by NH, and in addition, includes the results of the NICS check in its go/no-go response. The big difference is that, if the state receives a no-go from the NICS, it will provide you with that reason if you go to Concord and ask for it. The Federal NICS does not even have a real world address where you can go to confront your accuser(s) directly, and as stated earlier, does not provide you with the reason for denial until you have at least provided them with fingerprints and a Social Security Number, which become part of a permanent federal criminal registry, and even then, they can deny you the information but still keep your fingerprints and SSN. Trying to appeal this second-stage runaround is costly, frustrating, and usually fruitless. There has never been a more "faceless" bureaucracy than the Federal NICS.

4) Does the NH State Gun Line delay approvals of firearms purchases?A: Lately, it does, sometimes. But until recently, (recently, as in, before HB1220 was proposed) it was fairly responsive, which leads one to presume that the recent delays are a direct political response to the proposed bill (i.e. providing more ‘justification’ for eliminating the Gun Line). The state can speed up this process whenever the citizens are willing to tell them to do so. The Federal NICS is sometimes faster than the state line, but the price you pay for that speed is to be left without a functional remedy in the event of a baseless denial.

5) Can the state Gun Line serve to appeal denials and delays in a firearms purchase?A: No. GO-NH has never claimed that it does, and anyone asserting otherwise is trying to mislead you. Rather, the state Gun Line provides the reason for denial (if it was a Gun Line check), a key element in an appeal of the denial. The Feds don’t give you the same consideration – The Feds consider you an enemy (guilty) until proven otherwise, and deny you the information, in violation of their own laws (nothing new here).

6) Why not just change the federal NICS law to provide the information necessary for an appeal?A: First, there is no reason to change the federal NICS law to provide this information: It already has a requirement to disclose the reason for denial within 5 days of said denial (within the Brady Law, of all places!). The FBI simply ignores it. Apparently, they consider themselves above the law, and act accordingly; part of a longstanding policy against private firearms ownership.

Second, there is nothing NH can do, on its own, to fix the FBI’s handling of NICS purchase denials. When you consider that one of NH's US Senators is openly hostile to firearms civil rights, and opposes personal firearms ownership, the best NH could do in the US Senate would be a draw on any legislation to require the FBI to obey its mandate to disclose the reason for denial (however, the chances of that are…well, see: "Operation Fast And Furious"). If the current administration continues for another term, we’ll need all our resources just to fight the blizzard of anti-firearms fiat laws that are believed to be already planned out.

HB1220: This bill eliminates the NH State Police Gun Line, forcing EVERY SALE to be checked exclusively by the Feds alone (the National Instant Check System, or NICS). Why is that a problem?

Simply this: If you are denied for a firearms purchase, you face arrest and prosecution by the Feds, and if you dare ask why, the federales first demand your fingerprints -- So they can ‘identify’ you. (The funny thing is, they were sure enough about your identity when they denied your constitutional right to purchase a firearm.) The Feds have made the appeals process as oblique and unresponsive as possible without coming right out and telling you there is no appeal at all (which is against the law!). The fact is, the Feds are not perfect (far from it), and it IS possible to be denied a purchase based on faulty data. The Feds would like you to either simply accept your new status as a lesser class of citizen, go away, and never purchase another firearm again (and they may just come and seize any you curre ntly have), or they would like you to agree to become a second class citizen and waive all provisions of your federal firearms privacy rights, and get your own personal set of “papers” -- to make it “easier” for you to purchase firearms in the future. (Sounds European, doesn't it?)

On the other hand, the State Police Gun Line is more responsive if a denial is issued, and NH will give you the information you need to begin the appeals process. Although it is still considered a crime to attempt to purchase firearms while under some state or federal prohibition, the state of NH will tell you why you were denied (you have to ask in Concord, but they will answer your query), whereas the Feds will seek to deny you this information at every turn. But take note: Since the reason for denial is REQUIRED to begin the appeals process, denying you the very reason for denial, is effectively the same as denying you the appeal itself.

Currently, firearms dealers call the State to get approval for handgun sales. If you are purchasing both a handgun AND a long gun, your dealer can get approval from the State without going to NICS. HOWEVER, for long gun only purchases, your dealer MUST go to the Feds. If HB1220 passes, your dealer will go directly to the Feds for EVERY purchase, meaning there will be no way to begin the appeals process without begging the Feds for required appeals info.

Why would the Feds obstruct your attempt to appeal a firearms purchase denial?

After the last few decades, this should not take much thought: The Feds have consistently, for decades now, done whatever they could to discourage private ownership of firearms. Even under so-called conservative administrations, the Feds and, specifically, the BATF and FBI have been openly hostile to firearms owners and firearms ownership, and it will only get worse in the coming years (MUCH worse if the current president is re-elected). Apparently, as far as these agencies are concerned, the recent Supreme Court decisions are merely mild suggestions that they are free to ignore as they wish. If the current president is re-elected and gets to appoint a few more Supreme Court judges who are aggressively hostile to the 2nd Amendment (as his first two appointees are), those pro-2nd Amendment decisions are likely to be overturned, which would supercharge the anti-fire arms policies of ALL federal agencies. Good luck starting an appeal under those circumstances!

Appealing a denial is costly and involves getting a lawyer, jumping through all the hoops and avoiding all the stumbling blocks the FBI will cast in your way. The FBI won’t even tell you why you were denied unless you give them your fingerprints, after which you become part of the permanent CRIMIMAL DATABASE. If you manage to win your appeal, you will be issued a ONE TIME PERMIT to purchase the firearm(s) you were initially denied, and unlike other purchasers, the Feds will forevermore record every make and model of firearm your purchase, in violation of federal law. Ask your local firearm retailer how many of these one-time permits they have ever seen! (Hint: you can count those permits on one finger)

The NH State Police Gun Line serves as a partial firewall against the absolute obstruction you would experience at every step by going to the Feds first. While using the Gun Line is not a panacea, letting HB1220 pass will dismantle this firewall and leave you completely at the mercy of the anti-firearms federal agencies for even beginning the appeals process. So, the options are clear:

Either stop the passage of HB1220, or deal exclusively with the Feds in case your purchase is denied. Think it can’t happen to you? Just look at the infants on the “no fly” list!

Some points to consider:

1) Does GO-NH want the state of NH to enforce the Federal Brady Law?

A: Of course not. The Brady Law has always been mostly about harassing firearms purchasers, and GO-NH has opposed it from its proposal up to the present. However, the Brady Law is in fact a law that licensed firearms dealers must comply with. GO-NH’s interest in this matter is to keep the state’s access to denial information available to NH citizens; as explained above; without the state State Gun Line, this information is almost impossible to obtain. If the FBI actually obeyed the disclosure requirement in the federal NICS law, (which is as likely as the sky raining $100 bills), GO-NH might support the elimination of the Gun Line.

2) Does HB1220 end state funding of the 1993 Brady Bill?

A: Not really. Funding for the Brady Bill comes directly from the federal budget for both the FBI and BATF.

3) Does the NH State Gun Line simply regurgitate the response of the Federal NICS line, making it completely redundant?

A: No. The NH State Gun Line also performs checks against state databases to determine whether the person is prohibited from the purchase by NH, and in addition, includes the results of the NICS check in its go/no-go response. The big difference is that, if the state receives a no-go from the NICS, it will provide you with that reason if you go to Concord and ask for it. The Federal NICS does not even have a real world address where you can go to confront your accuser(s) directly, and as stated earlier, does not provide you with the reason for denial until you have at least provided them with fingerprints and a Social Security Number, which become part of a permanent federal criminal registry, and even then, they can deny you the information but still keep your fingerprints and SSN. Trying to appeal this second-stage runaround is costly, frustrating, and usually fruitless. There has never been a more “faceless” bureaucracy than the Federal NICS.

4) Does the NH State Gun Line delay approvals of firearms purchases?

A: Lately, it does, sometimes. But until recently, (recently, as in, before HB1220 was proposed) it was fairly responsive, which leads one to presume that the recent delays are a direct political response to the proposed bill (i.e. providing more ‘justification’ for eliminating the Gun Line). The state can speed up this process whenever the citizens are willing to tell them to do so. The Federal NICS is sometimes faster than the state line, but the price you pay for that speed is to be left without a functional remedy in the event of a baseless denial.

5) Can the state Gun Line serve to appeal denials and delays in a firearms purchase?

A: No. GO-NH has never claimed that it does, and anyone asserting otherwise is trying to mislead you. Rather, the state Gun Line provides the reason for denial (if the check went throught the state Gun Line), and the reason for denial is a key element in an appeal of that denial. The Feds don’t give you the same consideration – The Feds consider you an enemy (guilty) until proven otherwise, and deny you the information, in violation of their own laws (nothing new here).

6) Why not just change the federal NICS law to provide the information necessary for an appeal?

A: First, there is no reason to change the federal NICS law to provide this information: It already has a requirement to disclose the reason for denial within 5 days of said denial (within the Brady Law, of all places!). The FBI simply ignores it. Apparently, they consider themselves above the law, and act accordingly; part of a longstanding policy against private firearms ownership.

Second, there is nothing NH can do, on its own, to fix the FBI’s handling of NICS purchase denials. When you consider that one of NH’s US Senators is openly hostile to firearms civil rights, and opposes personal firearms ownership, the best NH could do in the US Senate would be a draw on any legislation to require the FBI to obey its mandate to disclose the reason for denial (however, the chances of that are…well, see: “Operation Fast And Furious”). If the current administration continues for another term, we’ll need all our resources just to fight the blizzard of anti-firearms fiat laws that are believed to be already planned out.

HB1220: This bill eliminates the NH State Police Gun Line, forcing EVERY SALE to be checked exclusively by the Feds alone (the National Instant Check System, or NICS). Why is that a problem?

Simply this: If you are denied for a firearms purchase, you face arrest and prosecution by the Feds, and if you dare ask why, the federales demand your fingerprints first. So they can ‘identify’ you. The funny thing is, they were sure enough about your identity when they denied your constitutional right to purchase a firearm. The Feds have made the appeals process as oblique and unresponsive as possible without coming right out and telling you there is no appeal at all (which is against the law!). The fact is, the Feds are not perfect (far from it), and it IS possible to be denied a purchase based on faulty data. The Feds would like you to either simply accept your new status as a lesser class of citizen, go away, and never purchase another firearm again (and they may just come and seize any you currently have), or agree to become a second class citizen and waive all provisions of your federal firearms privacy rights, and get yo ur own personal set of “papers” -- to make it “easier” for you to purchase firearms in the future.

On the other hand, the State Police Gun Line is more responsive if a denial is issued, and NH will give you the information you need to begin the appeals process. While it is still considered a crime to attempt to purchase firearms while under some state or federal prohibition, the state of NH will tell you why you were denied (you have to ask in Concord, but they will answer your query), whereas the Feds will seek to deny you this information at every turn. Since the reason for denial is REQUIRED to begin the appeals process, denying you the very reason for denial, is effectively the same as denying you the appeal itself.

Currently, firearms dealers call the State to get approval for handgun sales. If you are purchasing both a handgun AND a long gun, your dealer can get approval from the State without going to NICS. HOWEVER, for long gun only purchases, your dealer MUST go to the Feds. If HB1220 passes, your dealer will go directly to the Feds for EVERY purchase, meaning there will be no way to begin the appeals process without begging the Feds for required appeals info.

Why would the Feds obstruct your attempt to appeal a firearms purchase denial? After the last few decades, this should not take much thought: The Feds have consistently, for decades now, done whatever they could to discourage private ownership of firearms. Even under so-called conservative administrations, the Feds and, specifically, the BATF and FBI have been openly hostile to firearms owners and firearms ownership, and it will only get worse in the coming years (MUCH worse if the current president is re-elected). As far as these agencies are concerned, the recent Supreme Court decisions are merely mild suggestions that they are free to ignore as they wish. If the current president is re-elected and gets to appoint a few more Supreme Court judges who are aggressively hostile to the 2nd Amendment (as his first two appointees are), those pro-2nd Amendment decisions are likely to be overturned, which would supercharge the anti-firearms polic ies of ALL federal agencies. Good luck starting an appeal under those circumstances!

Appealing a denial is costly and involves getting a lawyer, jumping through all the hoops and avoiding all the stumbling blocks the FBI will cast in your way. The FBI won’t even tell you why you were denied unless you give them your fingerprints, after which you become part of the permanent CRIMIMAL DATABASE. If you manage to win your appeal, you will be issued a ONE TIME PERMIT to purchase the firearm(s) you were initially denied, and unlike other purchasers, the Feds will forevermore record every make and model of firearm your purchase, in violation of federal law. Ask your local firearm retailer how many of these one-time permits they have ever seen! (Hint: you can count those permits on one finger)

The NH State Police Gun Line serves as a partial firewall against the absolute obstruction you would experience at every step by going to the Feds first. Letting HB1220 pass will dismantle this firewall and leave you completely at the mercy of the anti-firearms federal agencies for even beginning the appeals process. So, the options are clear:

Either stop the passage of HB1220, or deal exclusively with the Feds in case your purchase is denied. Think it can’t happen to you? Just look at the infants on the “no fly” list!

Some points to consider:

1) Does GO-NH want the state of NH to enforce the Federal Brady Law?

A: Of course not. The Brady Law has always been mostly about harassing firearms purchasers, and GO-NH has opposed it from its proposal up to the present. However, the Brady Law is in fact a law that licensed firearms dealers must comply with. GO-NH’s interest in this matter is to keep the state’s access to denial information available to NH citizens; as explained above, without the state State Gun Line, this information is almost impossible to obtain. If the FBI actually obeyed the disclosure requirement in the federal NICS law, (which is as likely as the sky raining $100 bills), GO-NH might support the elimination of the Gun Line.

2) Does HB1220 end state funding of the 1993 Brady Bill?

A: Not really. Funding for the Brady Bill comes directly from the federal budget for both the FBI and BATF.

3) Does the NH State Gun Line simply regurgitate the response of the Federal NICS line?

A: No. The NH State Gun Line also performs checks against state databases to determine whether the person is prohibited from the purchase by NH, and in addition, includes the results of the NICS check in its go/no-go response. The big difference is that, if the state receives a no-go from the NICS, it will provide you with that reason if you go to Concord and ask for it. The Federal NICS does not even have a real world address where you can go to confront your accuser(s) directly, and as stated earlier, does not provide you with the reason for denial until you have at least provided them with fingerprints and a Social Security Number, which become part of a permanent federal criminal registry, and even then, they can deny you the information but still keep your fingerprints and SSN. Trying to appeal this second-stage runaround is costly, frustrating, and usually fruitless. There has never been a more “faceless” bureaucracy than the Federal NICS.

4) Does the NH State Gun Line delay approvals of firearms purchases?

A: Lately, it does, sometimes. But until recently, (recently, as in, before HB1220 was proposed) it was fairly responsive, which leads one to presume that the recent delays are a direct political response to the proposed bill (i.e. providing more ‘justification’ for eliminating the Gun Line). The state can speed up this process whenever the citizens are willing to tell them to do so. The Federal NICS is sometimes faster than the state line, but the price you pay for that speed is to be left without a functional remedy in the event of a baseless denial.

5) Can the state Gun Line serve to appeal denials and delays in a firearms purchase?

A: No. GO-NH has never claimed that it does, and anyone asserting otherwise is trying to mislead you. Rather, the state Gun Line provides the reason for denial (if it was a Gun Line check), a key element in an appeal of the denial. The Feds don’t give you the same consideration – The Feds consider you an enemy (guilty) until proven otherwise, and deny you the information, in violation of their own laws (nothing new here).

6) Why not just change the federal NICS law to provide the information necessary for an appeal?

A: First, there is no reason to change the federal NICS law to provide this information: It already has a requirement to disclose the reason for denial within 5 days of said denial (within the Brady Law, of all places!). The FBI simply ignores it. Apparently, they consider themselves above the law, and act accordingly; part of a longstanding policy against private firearms ownership.

Second, there is nothing NH can do, on its own, to fix the FBI’s handling of NICS purchase denials. When you consider that one of NH’s US Senators is openly hostile to firearms civil rights, and opposes personal firearms ownership, the best NH could do in the US Senate would be a draw on any legislation to require the FBI to obey its mandate to disclose the reason for denial (however, the chances of that are…well, see: “Operation Fast And Furious”). If the current administration continues for another term, we’ll need all our resources just to fight the blizzard of anti-firearms fiat laws that are believed to be already planned out.

So, please: Tell your state Reps. to oppose HB1220!

Posted 2/28/2012

A Call To Action

*** UPDATE 02/23/2012 ***

Charges have been dropped against Mr. Fleming, thanks for all the support from the firearms community.

Dennis Fleming, Farmington, NH charged with Class B felony reckless conduct-for stopping the man that he believes burglarized his home and that of his neighbor

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

Outrageous, but not surprisingly yet another example of how New Hampshire government officials disregard basic constitutional rights of self protection and the 2nd Amendment. This is the most recent prominent example, but far from the only example.

What can you do? Join GO-NH, Inc.-a 100% volunteer organization with no paid employees, VOTE, participate and be aware.

What else can you do? Call the Strafford County Attorney Tom Velardi (603) 749-2808 who makes the decision to prosecute and tell Attorney Velardi how you feel about the right to defense of self and property and the 2nd Amendment and Article 2-a.

Call the Farmington Police Department Police Chief Scott R. Roberge (603) 755-2731 whose officers made the decision to arrest Mr. Fleming and tell him how you feel about the right to defense of self and property and the 2nd Amendment and Article 2-a.

Here, the rule supporting interpretation of a statute to avoid or minimize its abrogation of the common law is supported by public policy. Under the defendant’s reading of the statute, even if a person faced with a situation other than those specifically set forth in RSA 627:4, III knew that he could, “with complete safety,” take some action short of using deadly force to protect himself or another from the use of deadly force, he would still be justified in taking a human life. Given the constitutional recognition of the natural right to life, and the great weight that law and society place on the sanctity of human life, see, e.g., State v. Grierson, 96 N.H. 36, 40 (1949) (“This maxim of retreating to the wall is a statement of fact properly illustrating the weight to be given to the sanctity of human life in determining the reasonable necessity of killing a human being”), the legislature most likely did not intend this result. We decline to infer from the legislature’s silence regarding the reasonable necessity requirement in the deadly force provision of the justification statute that New Hampshire citizens have the right to kill when it is not necessary under the circumstances.

Given our common law and the canons of statutory interpretation, we do not find that the legislature has expressed an intent to abrogate the deeply entrenched principle that in order for a killing to be justified, it must be reasonably necessary under the circumstances. Cf. State v. Chrisicos, 159 N.H. 405, 409-10 (2010) (noting that the legislature is free to amend the statute as it sees fit, should it disagree with our interpretation).

Posted 02/22/2012

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

IMPORTANT FIREARMS RELATED BILLS NEED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY AND WILL BE HEARD THURSDAY, 16-FEB-2012PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL YOUR REPS AND URGE THEM TO PASS HB1468Please also watch bills HB1499 and HB1514.All bills will be heard Thursday, 16-Feb-2012.

HB1468:This bill prohibits the police from seizing personal property without a warrant. This bill is designed to prevent situations where police seize personal property (firearms are a favorite among some police dept’s). In all too many cases, police use extra-legal coercive tactics to seize firearms without a warrant, in violation of the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and then work steadfastly to prevent their return after judicial review. With this bill enacted, police will be required to obtain a search warrant prior to such seizures, which is what they were supposed to be doing all along. (Hearing: Thursday, 16-Feb-2012 @ 10:00 A.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY) Please also call the members of the committee and ask them to support this important bill.

GO-NH recommends watching these bills:

HB1499: This bill establishes the offense of criminal coercion. When DVO’s (Domestic Violence Orders) are used as a weapon against firearms owners in order to seek better divorce terms for the complaining party, or just used for revenge, prosecutors and police may tend to coerce the complaining party to “stick to the story”, that may have been taken out of context in the first place. (Hearing: Thursday, 16-Feb-2012 @ 10:30 A.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY)

If you are able to attend the hearings for these bills, please do so. Your presence makes a much greater impact on legislators, when you take the time from your busy day to attend in person and make your voice HEARD!

HB1584: This bill provides that a police chief shall not inhibit the discretion given to a police officer under the law. Police are given discretion in enforcing laws so that, for example, a man rushing his wife to the hospital is not instead arrested for going through a red light. However, some police chiefs like to override this discretion to achieve, in some cases, political goals (to include anti-firearms, anti-self defense goals) rather than the safety of their community. This bill is meant to explicitly restore, to responding officers, the use of common sense in law enforcement, restoring the discretion to officers that the legislature previously only presumed they exercised. (Hearing: Tuesday, 14-Fe b-2012 @ 11:00 A.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY) Please also call the members of the committee and ask them to support this important bill.

If you are able to attend the hearing for this bill, please do so. Your presence makes a much greater impact on legislators, when you take the time from your busy day to attend in person and make your voice HEARD!

Posted 02/13/2012

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

A pro-firearms bill that already passed the NH House is to be voted on Wednesday, 8-Feb, in the NH Senate. More important, backdoor meetings led to agreement among Senate leadership to quietly kill this pro-firearms civil rights bill that your state Reps already passed: Kill it without a roll call vote, so every senator can claim innocence when called to task for not passing this important bill.

You see, you're not supposed to know you're about to be sold out, until it's too late to do anything about it. Then you're supposed to forget this betrayal, and re-elect the same back-stabbing senators next Nov.

Holding these cowards to a roll call vote will make them think twice about the Marc Anthony betrayal they are confidently planning tonight. So,

Please call your State Senator (and all the other state senators if you are able) and demand a roll call vote on HB194. Tell your senator that you will be carefully watching the votes on this bill, and if a roll call is not taken, you will presume that your senator voted to kill important, pro-firearms civil rights legislation meant to protect YOU!

Don't take "no" for an answer, and don't be fooled by excuses! Any senator can call for a roll call on this bill and that's what you want your senator to do! If your senator refuses to demand a roll call vote, or hems and haws when explaining to you why it can't be done, he/she almost certainly plans to vote against this bill but deny that vote later!

Senators that are openly hostile to firearms civil rights are usually upfront about their disdain for you and your "gun nut" friends. Senators that are strongly pro-firearms rights will usually agree with you on these bills, but sometimes they need an extra measure of courage to go against Senate leadership and actually demand that these votes be recorded. Senators who plan to stab you in the back typically don't want to cast recorded votes, because unrecorded votes allow them to lie right to your face during their reelection events. Don't let them get away with this!

Remember this bill that the Senate wants to kill?

HB 194 will decriminalize having loaded magazines/clips in your motor vehicle, boat, RV, etc. and clarify what is allowable. HB 194 will also protect firearm owners from being needlessly stopped, harassed, and charged, by defining what is and is not lawful.

HB1605:This bill requires the posting of notice prohibiting firearms in courthouses. This bill also requires the court to make available space to check firearms. When lawfully carried firearms are brought to a state court in NH (**), currently the state court records your name, your driver’s license and LTC (even though in NH a LTC is not required for open carry), and firearms serial number(s), and then sends this information to Concord. If you are lawfully carrying a firearm, there is no legitimate reason for the state to record this information. (For example, they don’t give you frequent carry miles no matter how many times you check your firearms) This bill will change the procedure, allowing you the privacy you deserve when you check in yourself defense tool at the court. (Hearing: Tuesday, 9-Feb-2012 @ 10:30 A.M. LOB Rm 208, HOUSE JUDICIARY) Please also call the members of the committee and ask them to support this important bill.

(**Do NOT try to carry a firearm into a Federal court: YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS THERE!)

HB1523: This bill establishes procedures for the return of personal property seized by law enforcement agencies after the acquittal or dismissal of proceedings against a person charged with a crime. Unfortunately, it is becoming a regular occurrence for police, after an acquittal or dismissal of charges, to keep firearms seized during a lawful or unlawful search. While GO-NH has some reservations about the requirement for police to return these seized items to your residence (as it gives them cover to harass you again), it is important to provide some statutory protection against a few police agencies that, for whatever reasons, presume to be a law unto themselves, even going so far as to ignore court orders to return the seized property). (Hearing: Tuesday, 9-Feb-2012 @ 10:30 A.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY) Please also call the members of the committee and ask them to support this important bill.

If you are able to attend the hearings for these bills, please do so. Your presence makes a much greater impact on legislators, when you take the time from your busy day to attend in person and make your voice HEARD!

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL YOUR REPS AND URGE THEM TO PASS HB1651 AND HB1423

Please contact your state representatives and ask them to support HB1651 and HB1423. Both bills will be heard Tuesday, 7-Feb-2012.Who is my Representative?

GO-NH supports these bills:

HB1651: This bill requires the division of state police to equip special weapons and tactics (SWAT) units or teams with cameras. Given the fact that NH is the 2nd safest state in the country, do you really believe NH needs 255 SWAT team members? As firearms owners see more and more official transgression against their peaceful use and possession of firearms, we are sadly seeing instances where, for whatever reasons, SWAT invades the homes of lawful firearms owners. We believe that, just as many police cruisers are equipped with cameras, (and that many times those cameras have documented unlawful behavior against legitimate firearms owners), it is important for SWAT Team members and citizens alike, to preserve an official (and incontrovertible) record of all SWAT Team/citizen interactions. We believe this will not only serve to keep o ur SWAT Teams honest, but also to help in the prosecution of those with criminal intent. (Hearing: Tuesday, 7-Feb-2012 @ 10:30 A.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY) Please also call the members of the committee and ask them to support this important bill.

HB1423: This bill removes the requirement that a person not be the initial aggressor in order to legally use deadly force in defense of another person. In some cases where deadly force unfortunately becomes the only option, the real aggressor often tries to turn around the prosecution by claiming that the defender was the initial aggressor, which denies the defender a legitimate claim to use deadly force for self defense. This bill removes that requirement, taking away the bludgeon that criminals sometimes use against lawful self defense with a firearm or other self-defense tool. (Hearing: Tuesday, 7-Feb-2012 @ 11:30 A.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE A ND PUBLIC SAFETY) Please also call the members of the committee and ask them to support this important bill.

If you are able to attend the hearings for these bills, please do so. Your presence makes a much greater impact on legislators, when you take the time from your busy day to attend in person and make your voice HEARD!

Posted 02/06/2012

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

IMPORTANT FIREARMS RELATED BILLS NEED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY AND WILL BE HEARD THURSDAY, 2-FEB-2012PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL YOUR REPS AND URGE THEM TO PASS HB1352, HB1332, HB1438, HB1452, HR0021, HB1334, AND HB1335, AND TO OPPOSE HB1627 AND HB1535

Please contact your state representatives and ask them to support HB1352, HB1332, HB1438, HB1452, HR0021, HB1334, and HB1335. and oppose HB1627 and HB1535.

HB1352: This bill specifies a procedure for reporting citizen complaints against a police officer, bringing to light what has been hidden for years under the guise of “personnel policies”. If an anti-firearms police officer harasses you, a citizen, for lawful possession and carry, you’ll understand the need for this protection. (Hearing: Thursday, 2-Feb-2012 @ 10:00 A.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY)

HB1332: This bill increases the standard for searches by Fish and Game from reasonable cause, to probable cause, and provides other positive changes, including a prohibition from assessing storage fees against citizens who have simply been ACCUSED of F&G violations. (Hearing: Thursday, 2-Feb-2012 @ 10:15 A.M. LOB Rm 307, HOUSE FISH AND GAME AND MARINE RESOURCES)

HB1438: This bill provides for citizens accused of firearms crimes, to review the charging officer’s personnel file for complaints of bias and other evidence of unlawful anti-firearms behavior. (Hearing: Thursday, 2-Feb-2012 @ 10:30 A.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY)

HB1452: This bill prohibits the establishment of sobriety checkpoints. Why oppose sobriety checkpoints? Because law enforcement have taken this type of traffic stop as an opportunity to go fishing for any firearms infractions, which is totally beyond the scope of a sobriety checkpoint. (Hearing: Thursday, 2-Feb-2012 @ 11:00 A.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY)

HR0021: Only a resolution, but requires the Congress of the United States of America to reaffirm its adherence to the Constitution of the United States, regarding international agreements and treaties. This is particularly relevant, given the current administration’s desire to enter into international (read that: UN) treaties that call for the prohibition of private firearms ownership. (Hearing: Thursday, 2-Feb-2012 @ 11:00 A.M. LOB Rm 203, HOUSE STATE-FEDERAL RELATIONS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS)

HB1334: This bill requires an amendment to make it a pro-hunting rights and fishing rights bill. The original bill requires that a suspension of a license issued by the department of fish and game be made pursuant to notice and opportunity for a hearing by the executive director of fish and game. However, the language “but such suspension shall not be for a longer period than 30 days unless the executive director and the commission, after investigation and hearing, so determine.” was struck, leaving the suspension period indefinite. The struck provision should be reinstated, limiting the suspension to 30 days, unless an investigation and hearing finds cause for a longer period. (Hearing: Thursday, 2-Feb-2012 @ 11:15 A.M. LOB Rm 307, HOUSE FISH AND GAME AND MARINE RESOURCES)

HB1335: This bill provides that the fish and game department shall refuse to issue a hunting license only if the person is prohibited under federal or state law from possessing a firearm. This provision is needed because the current standard is nebulous, and arbitrarily enforced. Note that your license can still be suspended for F&G violations. (Hearing: Thursday, 2-Feb-2012 @ 11:45 A.M. LOB Rm 307, HOUSE FISH AND GAME AND MARINE RESOURCES)

GO-NH opposes these bills:

HB1627: This bill waters down and confuses the issues regarding the same type of bill heard last week (HB1277, regarding communication between federal law enforcement officers and county sheriffs). HB1277 was clearer on the issue and contained better, pro-rights language than HB1627. Therefore, this bill should be killed, so as not to damage the good from last week’s bill. (Hearing: Thursday, 2-Feb-2012 @ 10:0 A.M. LOB Rm 203, HOUSE STATE-FEDERAL RELATIONS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS)

HB1535: This bill makes arrest records public. Why oppose public arrest records? What about innocent until proven guilty? There is nothing in this statute that says police also have to make public notice, in the same manner and fashion, if they made a mistake. As former Labor Secy. Ray Donovan put it, “Which office do I go to (to) get my reputation back?” (Hearing: Thursday, 2-Feb-2012 @ 2:30 P.M. LOB Rm 208, HOUSE JUDICIARY)

Posted 01/31/2012

Long Overdue Congratulations

Congatulations to the 2011 GO-NH Junior Small Bore Rifle Team for a National Record breaking performance at Camp Perry in July of 2011.

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

Please contact your state representatives and ask them to support HB1555, HB1337, HB1475, and HB1690. All bills will be heard Tuesday, 31-Jan-2012.Who is my Representative?

GO-NH supports these bills:

HB1555: This bill removes the penalty for carrying a loaded firearm for self defense in a state game refuge. (Hearing: Tuesday, 31-Jan-2012 @ 10:15 A.M. LOB Rm 307, HOUSE FISH AND GAME AND MARINE RESOURCES)

HB1337: There is a separation of duties and powers between Conservation Officers and police employees, and this bill clarifies those distinctions. (Hearing: Tuesday, 31-Jan-2012 @ 1:00 P.M. LOB Rm 307, HOUSE FISH AND GAME AND MARINE RESOURCES)

HB1690: This bill prohibits the use of cell phone data extraction devices by law enforcement agencies. This relates to firearms ownership, possession and use, because law enforcement has been known to search through phones looking for pictures and other info relating to shooting and the firearms community, with an eye towards prosecution, i.e. ‘fishing expeditions’. (Hearing: Tuesday, 31-Jan-2012 @ 2:30 P.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY)

HB1475: This bill provides that no state official shall enforce any provision of an interstate compact, which is based on another state’s law or rule, which has not been specifically approved by the New Hampshire legislature. The short version: Law enforcement cannot prosecute you for violating the laws of another state unless the NH legislature has also passed those laws. (Hearing: Tuesday, 31-Jan-2012 @ 3:00 P.M. LOB Rm 206, HOUSE CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW & STATUTORY RECODIFICATION)

HB1246: This bill adds two other offices that can issue licenses to carry concealed firearms. If you don’t trust your anti-firearms Chief of Police (or Selectmen) to issue an LTC, your pro-rights, elected Sheriff, or the Director of State Police can do so, as an alternative. (Hearing: Thursday, 26-Jan-2012 @ 1:30 P.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY)

HB1212: This bill provides firearms owners (and, really, everybody) with additional protection from prosecution resulting from an unlawful arrest. It also makes the standard for arrest clearer, in an attempt to avoid individuals being put under arrest simply on the whim of law enforcement. (Hearing: Thursday, 26-Jan-2012 @ 2:00 P.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY)

HB334: Support with amendment: We support repealing and reenacting RSA 159:26 as proposed in HB334. We also have concerns with the proposed language amending RSA 41:11-a. I. We will explain this position in more detail tomorrow. (Hearing: Thursday, 26-Jan-2012 @ 1:00 P.M. SH Rm 100, SENATE JUDICIARY)

HB194: This bill clarifies what comprises a “loaded firearm”. Firearms owners have been prosecuted for nebulous claims of loaded firearms – This bill should help prevent some of the more egregious cases. We note that section III-a is poorly drafted and confusing, negating the intended clarity of this bill. Ask your Representatives to support the bill but remove or rewrite section III-a. (Hearing: Thursday, 26-Jan-2012 @ 1:30 P.M. SH Rm 100, SENATE JUDICIARY)

HB1277: This bill requires Federal law enforcement agencies to notify NH law enforcement agencies, prior to investigation and enforcement of federal law here in NH. Ask your Representatives to add a requirement for written notification, from the Feds, to a named NH Law Enforcement Officer, before proceeding. (Hearing: Friday, 27-Jan-2012 @ 11:30 A.M. LOB Rm 203, HOUSE STATE-FEDERAL RELATIONS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS)

GO-NH STRONGLY opposes this bill:

HB1220: This bill would eliminate the state firearms purchase approval line, forcing EVERY SALE to be checked exclusively by the Feds. Yes, the same Feds that run the TSA. The same Feds that created Operation Fast And Furious. The creators of a no-fly list with babies and 3 year olds on it. Those Feds.

Currently, firearms dealers call the State to get approval for handgun sales. If you are purchasing both a handgun AND a long gun, your dealer can get approval from the State without going to the Feds. HOWEVER, for long gun only purchases, your dealer MUST go to the Feds.

Why does this matter? Simply stated, if there is a problem with the State’s approval, you can find out why immediately in Concord, from a real person, and if necessary, petition the court for reconsideration. However, if you are disapproved by the Feds, you can't even hope to get an explanation of the reason for the disapproval, without surrendering your fingerprints (and we all know how accurate they aren't) and engaging in an expensive legal process. Where do you even go to ask why you were denied? Washington, D.C.?? Additionally, you could even practically be barred from purchasing firearms FOR LIFE, having no recourse to remove the restriction, simply because the Feds refuse to explain the disapproval, thus preventing you from fixing or challenging it. An additional problem is that, while firearms purchases in the state of NH h ave increased, the NH State Police have intentionally underfunded the firearms sale approval staff, which has needlessly caused law abiding citizens to wait up to four hours for firearms purchase approval. This has also negatively impacted small firearms businesses. Besides this, do you want the Feds to be your only source of approval for purchasing firearms? Didn't think so... (Hearing: Thursday, 26-Jan-2012 @ 1:00 P.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY)

GO-NH asks you to watch this bill:

SB319: Watch: The Feds and the State have taken away people’s firearms civil rights based on specious claims of PTSD. This bill extends the commission’s study for another year. Watch the Commission’s report for proposed legislation to the House and Senate. (Hearing: Thursday, 26-Jan-2012 @ 1:30 P.M. LOB Rm 102, SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES)

Posted 01/25/2012

Minute Man Alert -- ACTION NEEDED

Important Firearms Related Bills

Please contact your state representatives and ask them to support HB1341 and HB1551, and to kill HB1339. We also ask you to watch HB1608 and HB1646.

HB1341 will be heard Tuesday, 24-Jan-2012 @ 1:00 P.M. in the LOB in Concord (Rm 204).

All other bills will be heard Wednesday, 25-Jan-2012 in the LOB in Concord.

HB1341: Repeals 644:13, the so called Compact Zone Anti-Firearms law. 644:13 is poorly written law, unevenly enforced, and can lead to felony charges for use of firearms. (Hearing: Tuesday, 24-Jan-2012 @ 1:00 P.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY).

HB1551: This bill is designed to protect land owners from frivolous suits. It could be stronger, but is better than no protection at all. (Hearing: Wednesday, 25-Jan-2012 @ 11:00 A.M. LOB Rm 207, HOUSE FISH AND GAME AND MARINE RESOURCES).

GO-NH opposes this bill:

HB1339: This bill says you cannot rent your land out to just one person, or let just one person use your property for hunting, fishing, or trapping. It could be easily be amended to include use of firearms. This is not only an anti property owners bill, it is potentially a wide ranging anti firearms bill. (Hearing: Wednesday, 25-Jan-2012 @ 2:00 P.M. LOB Rm 207, HOUSE FISH AND GAME AND MARINE RESOURCES).

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL YOUR REPSAND URGE THEM TO PASS HB1244, HB1342, AND HB1476,AND TO OPPOSE HB1318 AND HB1375

Please contact your state representatives and ask them to support HB1244, HB1342, and HB1476, and to kill HB1318 and HB1375. We also ask you to watch HB1187. All of these bills will be heard Tuesday, 24-Jan-2012 in the LOB in Concord.

HB1244 is a bill to give citizens the right to carry a self defense tool while trapping.

HB1342 is a bill that says the state cannot hire lobbyists with your tax money, plus cities and towns (through The Municipal Association) will no longer be allowed to as well, though they currently do.

HB1476 is a bill that says NH will no longer enforce out of state laws, rules, codes, and fees.

GO-NH opposes these bills:

HB1318: Tell your Rep. to ITL this bill (Inexpedient To Legislate, i.e. kill the bill). (This bill takes away rights you currently have under RSA 159:6) We went through this last session, and please tell your State Senator to SUPPORT HB536 as passed by the House - a MUCH better bill.

HB1375 (as written), although a well intended bill, will also be used against firearms owners when they are forced to defend themselves, and will take away their 2nd Amendment rights. Remember what happened to Ward Bird, who was sentenced under a previously well intentioned bill that was passed for a similar reason - and was ultimately used against firearms owners.

GO-NH asks you to watch this bill:

HB1187: Whatever happened to the old Civilian Defense Corp, and why are we reinventing the wheel? Presently, this bill creates an advisory commission, but needs to be watched for possible unrestricted power grabs. Our concern is that this commission, which prepares for possible action in the wake of a catastrophic event that renders the federal government unable to function, will propose unconstitutional and extra constitutional laws (such as banning all private firearms). If they are given the power to enforce such proposals, ALL of our rights will be in jeopardy.

Posted 01/23/2012

WEDNESDAY, January 4, 2012 THEY ARE VOTING TO TAKE YOUR RIGHTS CONTACT YOUR REPS

Please contact your state representatives and ask them to support Rep. (Dr.) Steve Cunningham’s bill, and to pass HB 29.

Please act to protect and further your 2nd Amendment rights.

HB 29 2011 MYTH BUSTING!!

Judges are human, with biases for and against firearms, individuals with connections in family and business and many other reasons that might make a person want to choose one court over another, particularly if your local chief of police appears before the local district court judge regularly and the police chief has developed a good rapport with the local judge, the judge is likely to take the chief of police’s word over yours. HB 29 would allow you to Petition the District OR the Superior Court in your area if your 2nd amendment rights are denied by your chief of police or selectmen.

Individuals MUST have the right to have grievances redressed! If you don’t feel you will get a fair hearing in district court one should have the right to be heard in superior court ( as was the Law Before 2009 (Garand v. Town of Exeter)

Tell the Committee you want them to Pass this bill! Call the committee members ask them how they voted. Thank those who stood up for freedom and ask the 11 who voted against your right to choose WHY? The Republican Majority on the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee does not think you should have a right to choose where to go to Court!

They don’t think you should have a choice on whether to spend YOUR money preserving your 2nd amendment right.

Call your Representative and tell him/her you want a roll call vote on HB 29 and to vote AGAINST the Committee’s ITL recommendation and to PASS THE BILL! MYTH: HB 29 will cost the State money! NO. How would it?

There is currently no filing fee in District Court to file a Petition from a denial of a LTC and HB 29 will not change this.

Tell them you care about your 2nd Amendment rights and can make your OWN choice about your OWN money.

Tell them it costs the same in time and taxpayer money in Superior Court as District Court and you are insulted they would try to sell you such a load of cabbage.

Even if HB 29 cost a aggrieved citizen more to elect to file an action in Superior rather than District Court, A citizen should have a right to choose how much of their own money they spend.

HB 29 wouldn’t cost the taxpayers any more to allow a person to file in Superior Court rather than District Court, the judges and clerks are paid the same in each court aren’t they??

If HB 29 passes, it would not take any more time to try a case in Superior Court than District Court, is the Committee saying Superior Court judges are less efficient and slower, thus costing taxpayers more money?

The Petition objecting to the local chief of police’s actions pertaining to your License To Carry one would file in Superior Court is the same Petition one would file in District Court, (other than the caption/label on the top would say Superior Court rather than District Court) how would that cost taxpayers more money?

Until Garand v. Town of Exeter, denials from application for license to carry a Pistol/Revolver HAD BEEN filed in Superior Courts as the law originally intended they could be, however, the Supreme Court sought to restrict a citizen’s avenues for redress of injuries.

If HB 29 passes, just like before State v. Garand, if a citizen files a Petition from a denial or other violation pursuant to RSA 159:6 in Superior Court, the filing fee is $180.00, plus costs for service, thus paying money into the State, the State has an opportunity to make money if HB 29 passes, and citizens can choose how to spend their own money.

RSA 159:6-e allowed a person aggrieved by the licensing authority to go to Superior Court for YEARS before the NH Supreme Court (despite the legislative history to the contrary) said, in a surprising decision in 2009 (Garand v. Town of Exeter) that individuals could no longer Petition the Superior Court for redress of their rights for denials or revocations of their LTC.

Many other causes of action can be filed in either the District or Superior court-all types of civil and others matters may be filed in either court. If a person owes you money, you can file in either District or Superior court (you may have to forego part of the debt if you file in District).

Many lawyers charge the same price for District and Superior court work, and if they don’t, a citizen should have the right to choose where to go, and how much of their money to spend.

Passing HB 29 will not give someone a right to a jury trial.

Passing HB 29 will not give someone “two bites at the apple” if they lose in District Court or Superior Court the appeal will still be to the New Hampshire Supreme Court…i.e. no appeal from District to Superior Court.

Denying a person the right to choose where they file a case, District or Superior court is just anti-freedom.

NH law already has a provision to award fees and costs to an aggrieved party, as well it should, and HB 29 will not change this.

Currently 159:6-f Remedies. –I. If any licensing entity or employee or member of the city council or board of selectmen, in violation of the provisions of this chapter, refuses to comply with this chapter, such entity or person shall be liable for reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred in a lawsuit under this chapter to enforce the terms of this chapter, provided that the court finds that such lawsuit was necessary in order to obtain compliance with this chapter by the licensing authority. Fees shall not be awarded unless the court finds that the entity or person knew or should have known that the conduct engaged in was a violation of this chapter or when the parties, by agreement, provide that no such fees shall be paid. In any case in which fees are awarded under this chapter, upon a finding that an employee, or other official of a licensing entity has acted in bad faith in refusing to comply with this chapter, the court may award such fees personally against such employee or other official.II. The court may invalidate an action of a licensing entity taken in violation of the provisions of this chapter, if the circumstances justify such invalidation, and may require the licensing entity to issue a license or otherwise comply with the provisions of this chapter.III. In addition to any other relief awarded pursuant to this chapter, the court may issue an order to enjoin future violations of this chapter. Source. 1996, 122:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1997.

Posted 01/04/2012

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

IMPORTANT FIREARMS BILLS HB194 & HB536NEED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY, TUESDAY, 3-JAN-2012PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL YOUR REPSAND URGE THEM TO PASS HB194 & HB536 –expected to be voted on Wednesday Jan 4These bills are expected to be voted on WEDNESDAY, January 4, 2012 - so there’s no time to waste!

Call and e-mail your State Reps. TODAY (here) and urge them to pass HB 194 as introduced, not the watered down Hopper amendment Offered up-as a weakened second choice!

While you were eating turkey and spending the holidays with family and friends, the Elitist Forces of Foes of Freedom were working overtime to see to it that your liberties are diminished; that you are ever more firmly under their thumb. Of whom do we speak? Why, our Gun Grabbin' Gov'nah and his Power Hungry Anti-Freedom Elitist pals. They're coming back from their holidays with a bag of self defense-crushing goodies that would make even Obama & Maw Napolitano jealous!

First up: Governor Lynch will join with Law Enforcement and Higher Education officials to emplore our Legislature to reject bills that protect your Firearms Civil Rights and Right to Self Defense.

Some Law Enforcement officials -- you know, the folks you PAY to protect you -- and some Higher Education officials -- those people you PAY to indoctrinate your children with socialist hatred of America's founding principles, are fearful of adults lawfully carrying arms for self defense. So much so that they're lobbying to prevent passage of pro-citizen bills the House and Senate worked on last year. In this case, HB194, a bill that repeals a very restrictive law that's been used to persecute innocent NH citizens. They're also after HB536, the so called “Constitutional Carry” bill.

Under current law, RSA 207:7 restricts how you may carry your self defense tool in your vehicle, which is defined as any motor vehicle, OHRV, snowmobile, boat or aircraft. (There are enough laws on the books to stop poachers - the current law, with all its ambiguity, has led to the prosecution of law abiding sportsmen). Farmers cannot even shoot a rabid animal from a parked tractor!

HB 194 will decriminalize having loaded magazines/clips in your motor vehicle, boat, RV, etc. and clarify what is allowable.

HB 194 will also protect firearm owners from being needlessly stopped, harassed, and charged, by defining what is and is not lawful. RSA 207:7 has been twisted to be interpreted in a way that no one had ever thought it would - and can be enforced by Fish and Game and interpreted by the courts to mean a loaded magazine attached to a firearm, or even in the vehicle in your hunting gear bag or pocket while in a vehicle. HB 194 will rectify this problem with current law by repealing the bad sections of RSA 207:7, while leaving the section prohibiting poaching intact.

GO-NH leadership believes that HB 194, as written, should pass.

Therefore, please call and e-mail your State Reps. TODAY (here) and urge them to pass HB 194 as introduced (not the bait-and-switch, neutered Hopper amendment they intend to substitute!)

Although HB536, the so called “Constitutional Carry” bill, is not now as protective of your 2nd Amendment rights as when it was introduced, HB536 (the original version) was a comprehensive bill restoring New Hampshire citizen’s right to keep and bear arms. The amended version is now HB536 2011-2679h, (which was gutted and weakened by the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee) . We believe this bill will need further amendment in the senate, but we have to start somewhere, so you should ask your reps to support this bill also.

HB 536, as currently amended, simply makes a License To Carry optional (for lawful concealed carry), clarifies that a License To Carry expires on the fifth anniversary of holders’ DOB (currently it expires on the fourth year), prohibits the police from asking any more information on a LTC application (Pistol/Revolver License to Carry) than is currently allowed by law, and makes it clear that anyone who is not prohibited by statute from possessing a firearm in New Hampshire may carry or transport loaded firearms. The bill also makes it explicitly legal for law abiding individuals not engaged in the business of selling pistols or revolvers, to sell a firearm to a person who is personally known to him or her.

Again, please urge your reps to support and pass HB 536 and HB 194 on Tuesday, January 3rd.

Posted 01/03/2012

Union Leader Poll

The Union Leader is taking a poll on their web site... asking: "Should people be allowed to carry guns on New Hampshire college campuses?"

Please vote to show the world that firearms on college campus is a constitutional right!

The poll is located at the bottom right corner of the home page of the Union Leader, above the links.

Posted 12/12/2011

GO-NH Raffle

Gun Owners of New Hampshire is raffling off a Ruger P345 Special NRA Edition .45ACP.

Tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10.

Tickets may be purchased at the monthly GO-NH meetings or by calling the GO-NH phone line: 603-225-4664 (GO-NH).

The drawing will be held on April 17, 2012 at the Holiday Inn, 172 N. Main Street, Concord, NH 03301.

You must be 16 or older to purchase tickets.

Posted 10/01/2011

CCF&G CMP Weekend

Hi All,

I am pleased to send along this message about the CMP Weekend, 15-16 Oct at CCF/G in Keene. There will be two matches on saturday and two matches on sunday. Garand, Springfield, Vintage and Carbine. Entry is ten dollars per gun and you must provide your own ammo. See their website for more info. If you can't shoot all four events check to see which shoots you can make on either day. Rifle course "B" (50 rounds for record) for the big guns and the 40 record shots for the little gun. All firing at 200 yards.Hope to see you on the range,

2011 GONH Service Rifle team

Pictured above are the people that fired in and supported the 2011 GO-NH State Service Rifle Team representingNew Hampshire at Camp Perry in the National Trophy Rifle Team Match fired on Thursday August 1st 2011.

This match is fired with Teams consisting of six firing members all shooting the 50 shot National Match Course.Fifty Three “In Competition” Teams and Twenty Eight “Out of Competition” Teams fired in this match.To be an, In Competition Team at least one firing member on the team must be a “New Shooter” that has never fired in this match before. The team new shooter this year was Brian Driscoll and Brian shot quite well.

A Huge Thank You goes out from all team members to Randy and Ev for volunteering again this year for pit duty! It is hard work pulling and marking targets all day in the heat and humidity of Camp Perry.

All firing and support team members would also like to Thank Gun Owners of NH and the Shooting Sports Committee for the support they provided the Team to participate in this annual prestigious event.

By George Smith Team Captain

Posted 09/27/2011

MINUTEMAN UPDATE -- VICTORY!!

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS;THANK THEM (unless, of course, they voted against the override) FOR OVERRIDING GOVERNOR LYNCH'S VETO OF SB88!!

Your calls and letters were heard by our state Reps and Senators, and led to both houses overriding Gov. John Lynch's veto of the self-defense bill SB88. SB88 will become law 90 days after the House vote is enrolled.

Thanks to a strong response from GO-NH members and leadership, in cooperation with other pro-firearms rights groups here in NH, our representatives in Concord took a bold step and rebuked the Governor, sending a strong message to every part of NH government: We want our rights preserved and strengthened, includin g rights that elitist bureaucrats would rather deny us, like self-defense.

Please look up your State Reps and your State Senator (if you haven't already) and then find out how each one voted here (House) and here (Senate). A "Yea" is a vote to override (hoo-rah!!); "Nay" votes are to support the Governor and his elitist buddies (boo!).

Please thank any Reps and Senator that supported us (you can use this State Reps link to obtain contact information). Far from everyday routine, this was a risky and bold vote to support the will of the people over the desires of politically connected, "too good for the common rabble" elitists. Contact info for your state Senator is here.

It wouldn't hurt to contact any Reps and Senator for your district that voted against us. Politely let them know that you are disappointed in their Nay votes: You elected them to protect your rights, not the Governor's power -- They sometimes forget who put them in office (and who can replace them next term). They need reminders like this from time to time.

MINUTEMAN UPDATE -- YOU WON!!!

On Sept. 7, the NH Senate took up the matter of Governor John Lynch's veto of SB88, a bill to strengthen citizen's rights to stand their ground when faced with a potentially life threatening situation. Thanks to your voices, our Senators heard the people speak, and voted again to support this pro-self defense bill, SB88, by overriding the Governor's veto of same.

Make no mistake: This is a big deal! The Governor held press conferences, engaged some elitist, anti-firearms Police Chiefs and bureaucrats to support him, and called upon anti-firearms groups to join him in explaining why NH citizens cannot be trusted to defend themselves and their families. The usual newspapers and blogs warned of the rivers of blood that will run down our streets if SB88 was signed into law. The usual breathless pre dictions of citizens shooting each other over parking spaces. The usual "citizens cannot be trusted" elitism. The usual "your government knows what's best for you" condescension that has worked in the past.

But most of our senators saw through the arrogance, hype and doomsaying.

They knew it was just another attempt to reserve the right to "stand your ground" to only those government-approved few who are 'important' enough to be worth defending. (Hint: that small group doesn't include you or me). So they made the pro-citizen's rights decision, voting to strengthen your right to stand your ground against malicious prosecution.

The next stop for SB88 is back to the NH House, where there are enough elected supporters of citizen's self-defense rights to make a veto override very likely. Of course, we shouldn't count our chickens before they hatch, but the Governor and his elitist buddies all agreed that the Senate was their last, best hope of protecting their monopoly on the right of self defense.

Perhaps we should put them all on crisis watch?

YOUR presence in Concord on Tuesday and Wednesday, and your letters, emails, and calls to your senator, gave our senators the confidence to cast an override vote.

Here's how they voted.

If your Senator voted Yea, it would be great to thank him/her for standing up for your self defense rights! If the vote was Nay, you might want to remind the good senator that when a self defense situation arises, the first person on the scene that can defend you, the defender who is there before anyone else, is YOU! And remind them that you vote. And you know other folks who vote. And will remember this and any other votes against your civil rights, come next November. Be polite, but make your position clear -- You elected a senator to protect YOUR interests, not the Governor's.

Please also call or email your State Reps, and remind them that you expect their vote to override the Governor's veto. As always, be polite, but firm. We're almost there -- Your rep's vote will be the deciding factor!

And if you're one of the folks who appeared yesterday and today in Concord, to let the Governor and the press know that you expect your government to treat you like an adult instead of a ward of the State, then you have our most sincere thanks, and admiration for your commitment to the cause. Legislators know that each person who takes the time to redress government in person, generally speaks for tens or hundreds of others who cannot be there but wish they could.

Congratulations! You made a difference, for the better!

Posted 9/8/2011

MINUTEMAN ALERT -- ACTION NEEDED!!

Our very own Governator, John Lynch, is still trying to prevent NH citizens from having a strong, pro-self defense bill to prevent more travesties of justice, ala "Ward Bird". He is holding a press conference on Tuesday, 6-Sep, at 11 A.M. to again tell NH why self defense should be left to Cops and Bureaucrats only.

At 1 P.M. that same Tuesday, we need to send a counter message: SB88 protects OUR right to self defense: Override the Governor's veto, and PASS SB88 NOW! Vermont, Arizona, Alaska, and Wyoming have all strengthened their defenders with this protection -- We owe it to ourselves to do the same.

Firearms owners and others need to make it clear that self defense is a right for ALL of us, including defense with a firearm. We need SB88 to help protect defenders against elitist prosecutors, whose only concern is maintaing the state's monopoly on the use of deadly force in self defense.

Remember: The U.S. Supreme Court has said police have no obligation to protect you specifically, but only the public at large (109 S.Ct. 998, 1989).

That means if you are in a self defense situation that requires deadly force, the only person responsible for wielding it is YOU. Given that fact, your lawful use of deadly force should be protected against malicious, politically motivated prosecution.

Please attend the rally at the LOB tomorrow, at 1 P.M., and please contact your State Reps and your State Senator, and tell them you expect them to support the SB88 self-defense bill, by overriding the Governor's veto of SB88. As always, be polite, but firm. We need this bill. The NRA supports it. GONH supports it. Our legislators should, too, so tell them that.

The Governor ignored our demands for a strong, pro-self defense law to prevent future "Ward Bird" tragedies, so now it's time raise our voices in our state capitol, Concord, for all to hear.

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Archived Articles

Legislation Articles that have been archived from the front page are available in the Legislation Archive.

General Articles that have been archived from the Front Page are available in the Articles Archive.

Shooting Sports articles that have been archived from the Front Page or Shooting Sports Page are available in the Shooting Sports Archive.

GONH MINUTE MAN ALERT!!!

CALLING ALL GONH members, NH General Court elected officials, State and Federal Representatives, Second Amendment Sisters Board of Directors, and any other GONH invited guests:

SCOTT BROWN HAS CONFIRMED HE WILL BE ATTENDING THE NEXT GUN OWNERS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE MEETING TO DISCUSS HIS POSITION ON FIREARMS, AS WELL AS TO ADDRESS OUR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS REGARDING HIS RUN FOR US SENATE.

The next Gun Owners of New Hampshire's Board of Directors' meeting is scheduled for Tuesday May 20th, 2014 at the Holiday Inn in Concord, New Hampshire starting at 7pm. Scott Brown has decided to run again for a seat in the US Senate, however this time instead of running in Massachusetts, he will be running for a seat to represent the People in the state of New Hampshire.

As always, we insist members be polite and respectful when addressing any candidate who comes to speak at our monthly meetings. This is important so candidates will continue to come before GONH members to better understand who we are, what we do, and what our position is regarding the Second Amendment. At Gun Owners of New Hampshire, our motto remains to inform and educate our members and the public with facts so please keep this in mind while addressing the candidates!

Please join us and voice your questions, comments, and concerns to Scott Brown!

In Liberty,

Gun Owners of New Hampshire's
Board of Directors

Empowering women: One bullet at a time

From The Union Leader ...

"Suddenly, there are lots of news stories about women toting guns..." Read more